Archived: Sahara-Care

Sahara Care is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to older people and younger adults in their own homes across Derby. This included people with physical disabilities and mental health needs. Sahara Care specialises in supporting people from an Asian background. The agency is located close to Derby city centre. The service was providing support for 13 people at the time of our inspection.

The registered manager was currently on leave and the registered person was responsible for the day to day management of 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.

We found that the provider did not always respond to information requested by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The provider was not meeting their legal obligation to maintain their registration and had not been proactive in addressing an issue regarding the provider’s registration. Following the inspection the provider submitted the applications, the progress of which will be monitored.

People told us they felt safe with the care provided by staff. Staff we spoke with understood their responsibility in protecting people from the risk of harm. However not all staff were aware of the different types of abuse people could be at risk from or external agencies were they could escalate concerns to.

Recruitment procedures ensured suitable staff were employed to work with people who used the service. Staff told us they had received training and an induction that had helped them to understand and support people better. There were sufficient staff available to meet people's needs safely.

Risk assessments and care plans had been developed with the involvement of people. Staff had the relevant information on how to minimise identified risks to ensure people were supported in a safe way. People received their medicines as prescribed and safe systems were in place to manage people’s medicines.

The provider understood their responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff supported people to make their own decisions.

People received appropriate support to manage their dietary needs. This was done in a way that met with their individual needs and choices. People were referred to health professionals when required to maintain their health and wellbeing.

People received care from staff that were respectful and caring and ensured that people's privacy and dignity was maintained. Care people received was personalised and responsive to their needs.

The provider’s complaints policy and procedure were accessible to people who used the service and their representatives. People knew how to make a complaint. There were processes in place for people and their relatives to express their views and opinions about the service provided. There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service to enable the registered manager and registered person to drive improvement. People received a handbook detailing information about the service.. The handbook was provided in English, Punjabi and Hindi.

Staff felt supported by the management team. The leadership and management of the service and its governance systems ensured consistency in the care being provided.

One family representative told us 'We are able to give feedback on any matter about care at regular intervals and we do so'. The family representative told us they were able to judge how care was being provided during the initial review where they were invited to attend and take part in the review about their parent. They were aware they could speak to either of the two managers at any time if they needed to do so.

Another family representative told us 'My parent used to be very westernised but since being ill they have returned to their Asian background this is particularly noticeable in their language preference to speak their community language. My parents' wishes are to remain in their own home Sahara Care have made this possible'.

We saw the agency liaised with other agencies to help provide care to people in the community. This meant that people were able to access other relevant community services for support to meet their needs.