Background to this inspection
Updated
30 July 2021
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 planned this inspection to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of one inspector and one 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
Barnet Carers Centre is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
The service had a manager who was registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We carried out the inspection visit on 29 June 2021. It was announced. We gave the service short notice of the inspection as we were mindful of the impact and added pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic on the service. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances and requirements arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What we did
Before our inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the home which included statutory notifications and safeguarding alerts and the Provider Information Return (PIR), which the provider completed before the inspection. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information
about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During our inspection we went to the service's office and spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager and four care staff. We looked at five care records and three staff records; we also looked at various documents relating to the management of the service. After the inspection visit, we spoke to 12 relatives and two people who used the service.
Updated
30 July 2021
About the service
Barnet Carers Centre is a charity providing services for carers, the community and a home support service to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection 50 people were receiving a personal care 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.
People’s experience of using this service
People told us people they were extremely happy with the care and support they received because they felt safe and all their needs were met by kind and caring staff.
People had access to healthcare services and were involved in decisions about their care. Partnerships with other agencies and health professionals enabled effective outcomes for people. Staff supported people to take medicines safely.
Risks to people were assessed and regularly reviewed. Staff understood the actions needed to minimise the risk of avoidable harm including the prevention of avoidable infection. Staff had completed safeguarding training and understood their role in identifying and reporting any concerns of potential abuse or poor
practice.
People and staff praised the managers of the service and agreed that they were approachable, knowledgeable, fair and did their job well. The staff team worked well together and supported the manager.
The staff team was committed to providing a high-quality service. They had undertaken training so that they were skilled and knowledgeable to effectively meet people’s needs. Staff understood their responsibilities to report any concerns.
Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible and respected people’s privacy and dignity. Staff knew people well.
People were given choices about the way in which they were cared for. Staff listened to them and knew their needs well. Care plans contained information about each person’s individual support needs and preferences in relation to their care and we found evidence of good outcomes for people. When people did not have the capacity to make their own decisions, staff maximised their involvement and made decisions in their best interests, in accordance with legislation.
Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the service.
People told us that staff were able to meet their needs and were respectful of their individual preferences. Relatives told us staff who supported their loved ones were regular staff and were very kind, respectful and caring.
People confirmed the service did not miss any care calls and that staff were usually on time.
People received care and support from a small group of staff, which provided consistency.
The managers of the service actively sought the views of people and their relatives about the running of the service and they dealt promptly with any concerns that people raised.
The provider had systems in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service provided. There was a positive culture throughout the service. Staff told us they enjoyed working at the service and felt valued.
More information is in the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Rating at last inspection
At the last inspection we rated this service Good. The report was published on 7 December 2017.
Why we inspected
We carried out a focused inspection of this service on 15 June 2021. This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe, caring and well led as we were mindful of the impact and added pressures of Covid-19 pandemic on the service. We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information, we may inspect sooner.