Care Outlook (East Sussex)

Updated 29 August 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 8 June 2018 and was announced. 48 hours’ notice of the inspection was given because the service was small and the registered manager was often out of the office supporting staff. We needed them to be available during the inspection. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Prior to the inspection we did not have an up to date Provider Information Return as this had not been requested by CQC. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Before the inspection, we looked at reports and notifications about important events that had taken place at the service, which the provider is required to tell us by law.

One person’s relative consented to us telephoning them to gain their feedback about the service. Other people had provided feedback by questionnaire. We spoke with the registered manager and one member of staff to gain their views about the service.

We spent time looking at records, policies and procedures, complaint and incident and accident monitoring systems. We looked at two people’s care files, one staff file, the staff training programme and medicine records.

Updated 29 August 2018

The inspection took place on 08 June 2018. The inspection was announced.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. The People’s Choice is a care agency that provides care services to people in their own homes mainly in the Seaford and Newhaven areas. Not everyone using the service receives a regulated activity of 'personal care.' CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and administration of medicines. At the time of inspection, four people were receiving personal care in their own homes. People employ their own staff and pay for their own care. This service only provides specific personal care tasks that cannot be provided by people's own staff because they are not registered for the regulated activity of 'personal care.'

This was the first comprehensive inspection following a change of legal entity and new registration on 24 April 2017.

The provider was the registered manager at the service. 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.

The care was predominantly delivered by two members of staff and the registered manager of the service. The registered manager was supported to manage the administration of staff training and recruitment checks by an office administrator.

People were supported to make their own decisions about their care or had a family member who helped them. The registered manager was aware of their responsibilities within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 if people required a mental capacity assessment to test their capacity.

People consented to their care. Staff were caring and compassionate. Staff were trusted and respected people's privacy and dignity.

Risks associated with people's care and support were managed safely.

The providers policies, training and work practices were designed to keep people safe from abuse or harm.

Suitable arrangements were in place in relation to the safe administration and recording of medicines.

Experienced and skilled staff were deployed in response to people’s assessed needs and choices.

Staff followed infection control guidance to minimise cross infection risks.

Staff performance and development was supported through supervision meetings which took place on a regular basis.

People's care plans contained enough information about their personal preferences and focussed on individual needs.

People's feedback was sought and used to improve the care provided.

There was a complaints policy in place and people knew how to make a complaint.

The provider had a set of values the staff understood and included protecting people's human rights. The registered manager regularly assessed and monitored the quality of care to ensure standards were met and maintained.

The registered manager understood the requirements of their registration with CQC.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.