Walfinch Bolton & Bury

Updated 31 May 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by an inspector and 1 Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. A new manager had been appointed in May 2023 and they were in the process of registering with CQC.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used information gathered as part of monitoring activity that took place on 19 January 2023 to help plan the inspection and inform our judgements. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the manager, nominated individual, compliance manager, and support staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We spoke with 3 people receiving support and 3 relatives. We reviewed 3 people's support records and medication records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures. We asked the manager to send us documents before and after the on-site inspection. These were provided in a timely manner and this evidence was included as part of our inspection.

Updated 31 May 2023

About the service

Walfinch Bolton & Bury is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people in their own houses and flats in the community. At the time of our inspection there were 4 people using the service. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of inspection, the service was providing personal care to 3 people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People felt safe, and staff knew what to do if they thought people were at risk. Staff managed people's medication safely. Staff recruitment processes were robust and staffing levels ensured peoples' needs were met. The provider followed current infection prevention and control guidance.

People's needs were assessed and reviewed regularly, and staff were trained to provide support whilst promoting independence. People told us staff were polite and always asked before providing support. People were involved in decisions about their support needs. People had access to healthcare professionals. People and their relatives told us they were involved in the support planning process to ensure it met their needs.

People were happy with their support and felt they could talk to staff if they had concerns. The provider had systems in place to learn from issues as they arose, and outcomes were communicated to staff. People had access to healthcare professionals. Staff and managers supported people's mental, social, and emotional needs as well as their physical healthcare needs.

Systems were in place to monitor quality and safety. The provider sought regular feedback from people to improve their support. Staff worked well in partnership with other agencies to deliver effective support. Managers audited support records, including accidents and incidents, to assure themselves of quality. Lessons were learned when concerns were raised, and these outcomes were communicated to staff.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 27 May 2022, and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.