Archived: 1st Class Care

Updated 9 October 2015

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.

This inspection took place on 24 July 2015 and was announced. The provider was given notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service that is often out during the day; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

The inspection was carried out by an inspector.

As part of the inspection we looked at the information we held about the service. This included statutory notifications, which are notifications the provider must send us to inform us of certain events. We also contacted local authorities and the local clinical commissioning group, who monitor and commission services, for information they held about the service.

We spoke with one person in their own home, and a representative of each person that used the service. We also spoke with the registered manager and two other members of staff.

We reviewed the care records of two people who used the service, two staff records and records relating to the management of the service. These included quality assurance audits, staff checks and training records.

Updated 9 October 2015

We undertook an announced inspection of 1st Class Care on 24 July 2015.

1st Class Care provides personal care for people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there were two people receiving a service.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection. 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.

All people we spoke with were positive about their experiences of the service.

Staff knew how to keep people safe and protect them from harm. Staff were aware of their duties concerning reporting matters which might affect people’s safety.

The provider had identified any potential risks to people’s safety and created guidance for staff to assist them in keeping people safe.

Staff arrived on time for visits. On the rare occasion that staff were late, the provider would ensure the person receiving support, or their representative, was informed. The provider had an effective system for providing cover where a staff member may be unable to attend a visit.

The provider ensured that staff were of suitable character to deliver care to people by carrying out appropriate recruitment checks before they started their employment with the service.

Staff supported a person to take the medicines they required in a safe way, which ensured their well-being and needs were promoted.

Staff were skilled and knowledgeable in how to support people. The provider ensured staff participated in appropriate training activities.

Staff respected people’s choices and understood how to support people’s rights to make decisions about their care.

Staff correctly followed people’s care plans to ensure they received enough to eat and drink. This included following the advice of external professionals on the best nutritional approach for each person. Staff co-operated with external healthcare professionals in order to promote people’s well-being.

Staff delivered support in a caring and compassionate way. People and their representatives were listened to by staff and communication was effective. Staff were aware of people’s individual needs and preferences, and respected these.

Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity. Staff supported people to be as independent as they could be, in a safe way.

People and their representatives were able to contribute to the care planning process. Care plans were written in a person centred way which reflected the individual. Staff responded to, and assisted people with their changing needs.

No one had raised a complaint with the provider, but the provider had a suitable complaints procedure in place, should this occur.

People and staff were positive about the management culture at the service. All people we spoke with told us that the registered manager made themselves available and stayed in contact on a regular basis.

Staff were supported by the registered manager so they could be effective in their roles. The registered manager ensured that staff were properly supported and their performance was reviewed and discussed with them in order to improve the service.

The registered manager carried out regular checks to ensure people had a good experience of the service.