All inspections: Cuffley Care at Home Service

This inspection was carried out on 19 May 2016.We gave the provider 48 hours notice to make sure that the people we needed to speak with were available during our inspection. We also talked with staff and people who use the service on the 24 and 25 May 2016. At their last inspection on 21 November 2013 they were found to meeting the standards we inspected.

Cuffley care at home service provide a care and support service to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection, 138 people were receiving support from the service.

The service did not have a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The manager for this service is in the process of registration with CQC.

People received care and support that met their needs. There were individual care plans that gave guidance to staff to enable them to deliver this in a way that respected their choices, preferences and promoted their dignity.

People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who had been recruited safely and had the appropriate skills for their role. Staff received regular support and supervision and the management team shared updates and lessons learned with them.

Staff knew how to identify abuse and risks to people and respond appropriately.

People’s medicines were managed safely. Everyone we spoke with was positive about the management of the service and the ethos of the service. Staff knew what was expected of them and people told us that they were all very kind and caring.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and address any shortfalls. People’s feedback was sought and this was responded to appropriately.

On inspection we found an efficient service. Care plans were drawn up in consultation with the person being cared for once the initial assessment by Social Services had taken place. We found that people were cared for by staff who knew them and that staff were assigned appropriately according to their skills. For example all staff received training in dementia awareness but those who have undertaken further training would be assigned to care for someone known to have dementia.

People told us that they were "happy with the care provided", the carer "knows me well and is very helpful" and people were "able to maintain some independence with the help of the agency".

People told us the care workers were lovely. They said they did not know how they would manage without them. People also felt that having the day centre facility provided them with a complete range of services all under one roof so to speak. Staff already knew many of the people who have care at home and attend the day centre. People were given a choice of lunch as well as hot and cold drinks and snacks throughout the day. There were a range of activities going on within the day centre and people were encouraged to participate in the things they were interested in. However some people just sat around chatting with friends and staff and there was a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The homecare service is provided from the front office in the same building and the staff who organised and managed the care at home service went into the day centre to speak to people throughout the day.

Archived: Cuffley Care at Home Service

All Inspections

19 May 2016

During a routine inspection

21 November 2013

During a routine inspection

13 November 2012

During a routine inspection