The Care Quality Commission
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  • Homecare service

Archived: Cumbria Care Domiciliary Care Agency - Barrow

Centenary Day Centre, Abbey Road, Barrow In Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1XH (01229) 894569

Provided and run by:
Cumbria Care

All Inspections

8, 29 January 2014

During a routine inspection

People we spoke with told us they were happy with the support they received from this service. They said the staff who visited them treated them with respect and knew the support they required.

People who received reablement support told us that they 'greatly appreciated' the care provided by the service. They said it was 'very important' to them that they were supported to gain confidence to live independently in their own homes.

Everyone we spoke with told us they had been included in agreeing to the support provided to them. They said they could refuse any aspect of their planned care if they wished. People told us that the staff who supported them respected the decisions they made about their care. Everyone we spoke with said that they were asked for their views about the service. They told us they knew how they could contact a senior person in the agency if they had any concerns about the care they received.

People told us,

'They staff are lovely, I couldn't do without them',

And said, 'The staff know what to do and are very patient and gentle'.

We found that the provider had not made appropriate arrangements to ensure medicines were managed properly. Although there were policies and procedures for handling medication, these had not been followed. People could not be confident their medicines were handled safely or that they would receive the support they required with their medication.

4 July 2012

During a themed inspection looking at Domiciliary Care Services

We carried out a themed inspection looking at domiciliary care services. We asked people to tell us what it was like to receive services from this home care agency as part of a targeted inspection programme of domiciliary care agencies with particular regard to how people's dignity was upheld, and how they can make choices about their care. The inspection team was led by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector joined by an Expert by Experience who have personal experience of using, or caring for someone who uses this type of service.

We carried out 17 telephone interviews and four home visits to people using the service, and their main carers (relatives or friends), to gain their views about the service. We visited the office to look at records and talk to the person in charge. We also talked to senior staff and three care workers.

Overall people using the service told us they were highly satisfied with the service. Without exception, everyone we spoke with felt they were treated with dignity and respect. One person using the service said, 'They are absolutely fantastic; they talk to me as a grown-up'. Another said, 'They are very, very nice. I can't fault them in any way.'

People told us that the carers were usually on time. Sometimes if they were delayed, they would telephone, just to let them know they were going to be late. People said that they understood this and were reassured by the phone call. One person said, 'I just couldn't cope without them, they make life worth living' . Another said, 'They are so helpful and friendly'.

People also told us the service was reliable with good continuity and consistency of care with a group of care workers that were known to them. They felt they had sufficient choices in the care provided. They had been involved in the setting up of their care, and had been offered choices in the times of the visits.