Archived: Live In Care Ltd

Updated 6 November 2018

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 02 October 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection activity to enable the service to inform people the inspection was taking place and they may be contacted. Inspection activity started on 29 September 2018 and ended on 02 October 2018. We made telephone calls to people on 29 September 2018 and visited the office location on 02 October 2018 to meet one of the two registered managers and to review care records and policies and procedures. The inspection was completed by two adult social care inspectors.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the information included in the PIR along with information we held about the service, for example, statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

During the inspection, we spoke with two people and two relatives. We spoke with one of the two registered managers, the provider, three care staff, the recruitment manager, marketing manager, learning and development manager and the head of people and culture.

We reviewed records that included three people’s care plans, five staff recruitment and supervision records and records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 6 November 2018

Melody Live In Care offers personal care to people in their own homes by providing a care worker [to be referred to as care staff] that lives with them. The service is provided to both younger and older people and those living with dementia. The care staff deployed by Melody Live In Care are self-employed, however, the provision of care of people’s care is managed by the provider to ensure it meets their needs. On the day of the inspection 20 people received the regulated activity of personal care.

At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the overall rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At our last inspection we rated the service good overall but requires improvement in the key area of well-led, where we found one breach of the regulations. At this inspection we found legal requirements had been met and there were robust processes in place to monitor the quality of the service provided and to drive service improvements.

Systems, processes and practices were in place to protect people from the risk of abuse. Risks to people had been assessed and their on-going safety was monitored. People received their medicines safely from trained staff. People were protected from the risk of infection.

The provider had completed relevant checks upon staff’s suitability to be registered and placed in people’s homes on assignment. One of the registered managers took prompt action in relation to one care staff’s file we reviewed to ensure all the required information was available. There were sufficient staff to provide people’s care. The registered managers ensured care staff had the skills, knowledge and support required to provide people’s care.

The provision of people’s care was based on their assessment and legal requirements. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff supported people to eat and drink sufficient to maintain a balanced diet.

Staff worked together to ensure they delivered effective care, support and treatment. The registered managers also worked in partnership with key organisations in the provision of people’s care as required. This included working with a variety of health care professionals. Arrangements were underway to ensure people could be appropriately supported as they reached the end of their lives.

People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring. People received their care in an unrushed manner and staff had the time to spend with them. They were involved in decisions about their care. People’s privacy and dignity were upheld, and their independence was promoted during the provision of their care.

People received individualised care that was responsive to their needs. They and their representatives contributed to their care planning and reviews of their care. Staff supported them to maintain relationships that were of importance to them and to pursue their interests. Their views on the service were sought both through regular reviews of their care and independent surveys.

The provision of people’s care was underpinned by a clear set of values, which had recently been reviewed. These included respect, reliance and kindness Day to day management of the service was undertaken by the provider’s two registered managers, who were in turn supported by members of the senior management team. Processes were in place to investigate and action any complaints received or incidents.