The Care Quality Commission

Archived: HM Care

1 Grafton Walk, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR2 7QS (01432) 360518

Provided and run by:
Mrs Helen May

All Inspections

During a check to make sure that the improvements required had been made

We reviewed the information sent to us by the provider. We found that people were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had taken steps to make sure staff had access to information and training, and knew what action to take should they suspect abuse had occurred. We found that effective recruitment procedures were now in place to make sure that suitable people were employed to work for the agency. The provider confirmed that staff received suitable induction training before they began to provide care to people using the service. The provider told us that staff received appropriate training for the work they did.

4 July 2012

During a routine inspection

We did this inspection to check whether H M Care was meeting government standards in the areas listed below. In particular we wanted to check the arrangements for the selection and recruitment of staff employed to work at the agency. This was because concerns had been raised through the local multi agency safeguarding process that the agency might not have been making the required checks on people they employed.

We spent part of a day at the H M Care office where we spoke with the provider and looked at records. We also spoke by telephone with seven people who used the service, three relatives and six care workers.

The people we spoke with told us that their care needs were being met by the care workers. They were satisfied that staff gave them the care and support that they needed and that had been agreed. People said that they felt safe and that their care workers were polite and respectful towards them. However, several people commented that they felt that some of the younger staff needed more supervision. People said they usually had a regular group of care workers and liked the continuity this gave them. One person told us that their care workers were 'very considerate and do their best to accommodate me'. Another person commented 'they do a fab job, they come in smiling'. All the people we spoke to said they found the service reliable and that their care workers arrived on time except in exceptional circumstances.

The staff we spoke to were generally positive and said they thought H M Care provided people with good care. Staff had varying views on the quality of communication within the agency. Some felt this was good but others said that the provider was busy and therefore not always available to speak to.

We found that the provider had carried out the required checks when they had recruited staff to work at the agency. However, they had not always considered the implications of information obtained when making decisions to employ staff.

The arrangements for the initial training of new staff were informal and did not follow national guidance from Skills for Care. This meant that although they were 'shadowing' more experienced staff, care workers with H M Care were starting work without having had suitable training to make sure they were competent to do so.

The provider was not managing some aspects of the service effectively.

24 March 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Because we did this review to check what action the owner had taken to improve recruitment procedures we did not speak to people who use the service. We found that the required improvements had been made. This should mean that people will now be safeguarded from the risk of unsuitable carer workers being employed.

5, 17 January 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

Because this review was focused on the recruitment and training of staff, we did not need to visit or talk to people who use the service as part of the review. People have a right to expect that care staff who are going to be working in their homes are carefully checked before they are employed by the agency. We found that the agency had not been doing some of the required checks, and this could have put people at risk from the possibility of unsuitable staff being employed. The risk is particularly high, because care staff are working unsupervised in the homes of some very vulnerable people.