Archived: Salter's Hill Home Care & Support

Updated 22 February 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 5 January 2017. We gave the service notice of the inspection because it is small and the registered manager is often out of the office providing support to people and staff. We needed to be sure that they would be in. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. We spoke with the registered manager, four people using the service and four members of staff.

We reviewed records for three people using the service and checked records relating to staff recruitment, support and training and the management of the service. Before the inspection the provider completed a provider information return (PIR) in February 2016. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also received comments from people who use the service, staff, community professionals and relatives and friends through questionnaires sent out around the time the PIR was completed. Before this inspection we reviewed information we have about the service including notifications. A notification is a report about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

Updated 22 February 2017

This inspection took place on the 5 January 2017 and was announced.

Salter's Hill Home Care & Support is registered to provide personal care.

Salter's Hill Home Care & Support had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were at risk of receiving care from unsuitable staff because robust recruitment procedures were not being applied.

We heard positive comments about the service such as “the service is one of the best and should be replicated”. One person told us they were “Happy with Salter’s Hill”. A member of staff told us people using the service were “well supported”.

People were enabled to live safely; risks to their safety were identified, assessed and appropriate action taken. People's medicines were safely managed.

People were satisfied with their support and the approach and effectiveness of staff. People's individual needs were known to staff who had achieved positive relationships with them. People were treated with kindness, their privacy and dignity was respected and they were supported to maintain their independence and engage in activities. People were involved in the planning and review of the support they received.

Staff received support to develop knowledge and skills for their role and were positive about their work with people. The registered manager was accessible to people using the service and staff. Systems were in place to check the quality of the service provided including gaining the views of people who used the service, their representatives and staff.