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Archived: Liverpool Domiciliary Care Service

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Administration Centre, Thingwall Hall, Thingwall Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside, L14 7NZ (0151) 228 4439

Provided and run by:
The Brothers of Charity Services

All Inspections

29 February 2016

During a routine inspection

This was an announced inspection, carried out on 29 February 2016. We gave 48 hours’ notice of the inspection because the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that the registered manager or someone who could act on their behalf would be available to support our inspection.

Liverpool Domiciliary Care Service is part of the Brothers of Charity organisation and provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes. Liverpool Domiciliary Care Agency is based in Knotty Ash, Liverpool and provides care to people throughout Merseyside.

The service has a manager who was registered with CQC in 2011. 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 last inspection of Liverpool Domiciliary Care Service was carried out in July 2013 and we found that the service was meeting all the regulations that were assessed.

People who used the service were protected from avoidable harm and potential abuse because the registered provider had taken steps to minimise the risk of abuse. Clear procedures for preventing abuse and for responding to an allegation of abuse were in place. Staff were confident about recognising and reporting suspected abuse and the registered manager was aware of their responsibilities to report abuse to relevant agencies.

Procedures were in place to protect people from hazards and to respond to emergencies. Staff were confident about dealing with an emergency situation should one arise.

There were appropriate numbers of staff on duty to meet people’s individual needs and lifestyle choices and to keep people safe. Staff recruitment checks were robust and staff were only employed to work at the service following the receipt of satisfactory checks on their suitability.

The registered manager and staff had a good knowledge and understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and their roles and responsibilities linked to this. They worked with relevant others to ensure decisions were made in people’s best interests when this was required.

People were provided with care and support that was tailored to meet their individual needs and was person centred. This means that the way in which the service was delivered was based on the individual needs of the people who used it. Staff responded to changes in people’s needs and they provided flexible support to make sure people were achieving the things they wanted to.

People’s needs had been assessed and they had a support plan which was detailed, personalised and provided clear guidance on how to meet their needs. Risks to people’s safety and welfare had been assessed and plans to manage any identified risks were in place.

People were well supported to access a range of healthcare professionals as appropriate to their individual needs. People’s health and wellbeing was monitored to ensure they remained health and well and appropriate action was taken in response to any concerns noted.

Medication was managed appropriately and people received their medication as prescribed. There were processes in place to ensure medication was managed safely. Staff had access to guidance about how to support people with their medicines, including what medicines were prescribed for.

People were supported to lead active lives both at home and in the community. Support plans included information about how people preferred to spend their time and the support they needed with this. People provided us with many examples of their involvement in the local community and how staff supported them.

Staff spoke about people with warmth and affection and they knew people well, including their likes, dislikes and preferred routines. People were supported and encouraged to be independent and learn new skills. People set goals and were supported by staff to achieve them.

Staff were well supported in their roles and responsibilities. Staff had been provided with relevant training and they underwent annual refresher training in a range of topics. Staff attended regular supervision meetings and team meetings which enabled them to discuss their work, training and development needs and receive updates regarding the service.

Staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities and the lines of accountability within the service.

Staff told us there was an open culture at the service and that they felt valued as an employee. They said they would not hesitate to raise concerns if they had any and felt that any concerns they did raise would be dealt with appropriately.

Systems were in place to regularly check on the quality of the service and ensure improvements were made. These included regular audits on areas of practice and seeking people’s views about the quality of the service. Developments were made to the service in response to people’s views and to changes in practice guidance.

9 July 2013

During a routine inspection

People who used the service told us they had made choices and decisions about their care and support. We found that staff understood the legal processes that they would need to follow if they had concerns about a persons ability to consent to any aspect of their care and support.

We found that people received care and support which had been carefully planned around their individual needs, aspirations and goals. People told us they were encouraged to live independent lives in a safe way and that they felt confident about their future. Staff told us they had received training in emergency procedures and they felt confident about dealing with any incident which may arise.

Appropriate staff recruitment processes had been followed to ensure that people were supported by staff that were suitably qualified, skilled and fit to carry out their role. People who used the service were invited to take part in the recruitment and selection of staff.

We found that there was a complaints system in place which people knew about and understood. People said they would complain if they needed to and they felt confident that their complaint would be listened to and dealt with in the right way.

We found that staff understood their responsibilities for ensuring people's records were properly kept and treated with confidence. We found that people's personal records and other records relevant to the running of the service were kept securely, well maintained and up to date.

23 October 2012

During a routine inspection

During our inspection we visited the Liverpool Domiciliary Care Agency office and one of the houses where the organisation provides support. We spoke with staff members and people who used the service. Many of the people who used the service had complex needs which made communication difficult, however the people we were able to speak with were happy with the support they received. We observed staff supporting people in a positive way and people who used the service told us about the ways in which staff support them to live independent lives in their communities.

People who used the service each had a person centred plan in place, which provided staff with information about the level and type of support people needed. Person centred plans also included risk assessments that detailed any identified risk and provided staff with guidance and information as to the most appropriate way to minimise these risks.

During our visit we also saw evidence that the staff were well supported in their roles and the organisation was monitoring the quality of the service provided on a regular basis.

8 March 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

We spoke to people's advocates and relatives, who told us,

"I am very happy with the care given",

"the girls are second to none, kind and so understanding. They are absolutely essential to both mine and [name of person] life. Could not and would not want to be without them".

"always happy and smiling".

Social services told us that there have been safeguarding concerns and these have been appropriately reported and addressed by the service.