• Services in your home
  • Homecare service

Archived: Penkz Limited

Mossport House, 9 The Bridge, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 5AB (020) 8868 1111

Provided and run by:
Penkz Limited

All Inspections

4, 10, 19 December 2013

During a routine inspection

Five of the six people we spoke with told us they were satisfied with the service they received. The relative of one person who no longer used the service said they would be quite happy to use the service again if they needed to. Another relative said the agency responded well to their relative's changing needs and that their care worker was changed when they had said that they were not happy with them. One person who used the service said, 'They're nice people and they look after me very nice.'

The service had a new format for care plans. People told us that a manager had visited them recently to reassess their care needs. They were able to discuss how they wished their care to be provided. One person said, 'I don't have regular carers but I know all the girls now. I think a great deal of them. They have information on how to help me and they always ask if I want anything else. They are all extremely nice.'

Two people told us that there were a lot of changes in care workers, because they did not stay with Penkz Limited for very long. All the staff we spoke with told us that they were asked to take on additional calls due to shortage of staff.

Care workers told us that they had the training that they needed to meet people's needs, and that they received good support from the managers.

Staff files contained all the required information to show that they were fit to work with vulnerable people.

4, 6 February 2013

During a routine inspection

Everyone we spoke with told us their regular care workers were very good and very caring. They said they were confident that the care workers had the skills and training to meet their needs appropriately. However one person said they did not know who was coming to provide their care, and two out of three times they would be a new care worker, who did not know them and how they wished to be assisted.

People were not involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. Care plans provided brief details of each person's care needs with no indication that the person's preferences were taken onto account.

We saw evidence that one person had commented that the care workers always seemed to be in a rush, and requested more time for the visits. There was no evidence that any action had been taken to address this concern.

People's personal records were not accurate and fit for purpose. Care plans did not contain accurate information on each person's needs. These inaccuracies in care records mean there was a risk of the care worker providing inappropriate and unsafe care and of the person suffering an injury.

Staff records and other records relevant to the management of the services were not accurate and fit for purpose. We looked at the files for three care workers. They all contained evidence of each person's identity. However none of the files contained all the required information to show the people concerned were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

During a routine inspection

People told us agency representatives had visited them at home to assess and discuss their needs in detail. They said they were given information about the care agency, how to contact them and what to expect from care staff.

People said the care workers were 'lovely' and treated them with dignity and respected their wishes. They confirmed they had a care plan which they had contributed to.

People said they, or their family were able to raise any concerns directly with the agency.

People told us the care staff were 'very good' and said 'I have no complaints, they're all really good'.