Relief Care Agency

Updated 4 March 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care and practical supports to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service. This information included feedback we had received about the service and any statutory notifications that the provider had sent to the CQC. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager. We reviewed two people's care file, three staff records, policies and procedures and a range of records relating to the management and quality monitoring of the service. Following or visit to the office, we received feedback from two care staff and two relatives of a people using the service.

Updated 4 March 2023

About the service

Relief Care Agency is a small domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care and other support to people living in their own homes. At the time of this inspection, two people were receiving support with their personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The service ensured people’s safety was fully assessed and managed. Potential risks to people had been identified at their initial assessment and the provider ensured these were regularly reviewed and updated where required. Staff were provided with guidance to ensure potential risks to people were minimised.

The provider had ensured there were enough staff in post to meet people’s care and support needs. Pre-employment checks had been carried out to ensure new staff were safe and suitable for the work they were required to undertake.

The provider had systems in place to help protect people from the risk of infection. Staff were provided with personal protective equipment. Staff had received training in infection prevention and control.

People’s care needs, wishes and preferences were assessed before they started using the service. Their care plans contained detailed guidance for staff on how they should ensure people’s needs were sensitively and effectively met.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests and the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People’s relatives gave positive feedback about the support their family members received from staff.

Staff respected people’s choices, including those relevant to protected characteristics, for example, due to disability, cultural or religious preferences. The provider had ensured people were supported by staff who were familiar with their cultural and language needs and preferences.

Staff members had received training to ensure they were provided with the knowledge they required to meet people’s needs. All new staff received an induction before they started to support people. The provider had a system in place to ensure training was refreshed annually or as required. Staff received regular supervision from the registered manager to support them in their care practice.

People’s nutritional support needs were met. People’s care plans included guidance and information for staff on their preferences in relation to meal preparation and preferences.

There was a process in place to report, monitor and learn from accidents and incidents. The service was relatively new and there had been no incidents at the time of our inspection. However, the provider had procedures in place to ensure incidents and accidents were managed and reported effectively.

The provider had systems in place to monitor and assess the quality of the care and support provided to people. Policies and procedures which reflected current best practice were in place to underpin this.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This is the first inspection of the service. This service was registered with us on 1 November 2021.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.