Archived: Live-in Comfort

Updated 22 February 2016

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.

The inspection took place on the 17 December 2015 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service. We wanted to be sure that someone would be in to speak with us. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.

Before the inspection we checked the information that we held about the service and the service provider. This included statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important

events which the service is required to send us by law. We used all this information to decide which areas to focus on during our inspection.

During our inspection we spoke with one person in their home and two relatives on the telephone, three care staff and the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records about people’s care and how the service was managed. These included the care records for three people, medicine administration record (MAR) sheets, five staff training, support and employment records, quality assurance audits, incident reports and records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 22 February 2016

We inspected Live-in Comfort on the 17 December 2015 and this was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service. We wanted to be sure that people would be in the office that we needed to speak with. Live-in comfort supports people in their own home, including those with dementia type illness, physical disabilities, sensory impairment and / or medical (including terminal) illness. They provide staff who live with people to provide regular and consistent care and support to people who wish to retain their independence

and continue living in their own home. On the day of our inspection there were four people receiving support from Live-in Comfort.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

The service considered peoples capacity using the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) as guidance. People’s capacity to make decisions had been assessed. Staff observed the key principles in their day to day work checking with people that they were happy for them to undertake care

tasks before they proceeded. However there was no formal specific recording where someone may lack capacity to make day to day decisions regarding their care and support. This is an area that needs improvement.

Staff felt supported to carry out their roles and were in regular contact with the registered manager. Staff had received training relevant to the care and support they provided but some of this was not current and needed to be updated. We identified this as an area that needs improvement.

People were supported to have their nutritional needs met and there was detailed guidance in care records as to how to meet these. People were supported to access support from the appropriate health professionals.

Risks to people were assessed and monitored to ensure action was taken to avoid accidents and the deterioration of people’s health. The service had recruited a sufficient number of suitably qualified staff to meet people’s needs. Recruitment practice was robust and protected people

from the risk of receiving support from staff who were unsuitable.

The provider had arrangements in place for the safe administration of medicines. People were supported to receive their medicine when they needed it. People were supported to maintain good health and had assistance to access to health care services when needed.

Staff had a very good understanding of respecting people within their own home and providing them with choice and control. The service had identified people’s needs and preferences in order to plan and deliver their care. People told us staff were kind and caring. One person said I’m very well looked after”.

There were clear lines of accountability. The agency had good leadership and direction from the registered manager. Feedback was sought by the provider. Survey results were positive and any issues identified acted upon. People and relatives we spoke with were aware of how to make a

complaint and felt they would have no problem raising any issues. In respect to the registered manager one relative told us they were “On the ball and has been a great help and guide”.