Background to this inspection
Updated
5 January 2017
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 23 November 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours' notice, because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be available at the office.
The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This 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. We took this information into account during our inspection.
As part of our inspection, we looked at the information we held about the service. We asked representatives from the local authority and Healthwatch for their views about the service and looked at the statutory notifications the home manager had sent us. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law.
During our inspection, we spoke with 17 people who used the service and 15 relatives. We also talked to eight members of staff, including care and support workers, the senior care support worker, the registered manager and the operations manager. We looked at three people's care plans, accident and incident forms, records of complaints, staff training records and records associated with the provider's quality assurance systems.
Updated
5 January 2017
The inspection took place on 23 November 2016 and was announced.
Cheshire & Staffordshire Homecare Ltd is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. There were 86 people using the service on the day of our inspection.
A registered manager was in post and was present during our inspection. 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 provider had trained staff in how to protect people from harm and abuse. Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse to the provider. People knew how to make the provider aware of any concerns about their safety or wellbeing. The provider had assessed and managed the risks connected with people’s individual care and support needs. They organised their staffing requirements to be able to meet these needs. People had the support they needed to take their prescribed medicines safely.
Staff had the skills and knowledge needed to meet people’s individual care needs. They received effective induction, training and ongoing support from the provider. The provider understood and protected people’s rights under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People had the support they needed to prepare meals and eat and drink safely and comfortably. The provider had assessed any nutritional or dietary needs people had. Staff helped people to access healthcare services in the event that they were unwell or in pain.
Staff adopted a caring approach to their work with people. The provider encouraged and facilitated people’s involvement in decision-making that affected them. People knew how to raise a complaint about the service, and felt comfortable doing so.
People received care and support that took into account their specific needs and preferences. Staff understood the importance of following people’s care plans. The provider had developed procedures to ensure people’s complaints were dealt with properly.
The provider promoted an open, ongoing dialogue with people, their relatives and the staff they employed. People and staff found the management team approachable and willing to listen. Staff felt well supported and were clear about what was expected of them. The registered manager understood the duties and responsibilities associated with their post. The provider made use of effective quality assurance systems to drive improvement within the service.