Archived: Shire Care Services

Updated 30 September 2016

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 was an announced inspection which took place on 30 August 2016 by an inspector and the provider was given 48 hours’ notice of the inspection because the service is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

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. This information helped us to focus our inspection.

We looked at the information we held about the service and the provider. We asked the local authority if they had any information to share with us about the care provided by the service.

As part of our planning for the inspections we asked the local authority if they had any information to share with us about the care provided by the service. They told us they had no current concerns about the service.

We spoke with two people who used the service, two relatives, one care staff and the registered manager who was also the provider.

We looked at the risk assessments and specific care plans care records for six people, a staff file and records relevant to the quality monitoring of the service.

Updated 30 September 2016

This inspection was carried out on 30 August 2016.

Shire Care is registered to provide personal care and support for people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection six people received care and support from this service.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

People felt safe with the care and support provided, and that staff were kind, caring and always respectful towards them. Staff understood how to recognise and protect people from abuse and received regular training around how to keep people safe. Staff were not recruited until checks had been made to make sure they were suitable to work with the people that used the service.

People were supported by staff and management that were approachable and if they had any concerns they would be listened to.

Staff were reliable and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs.

People were confident that staff had the knowledge and skills to provide the right care and support. People’s care records contained the relevant information for staff to follow to meet people’s health needs and manage risks appropriately. Care plans and risk assessments were clear and updated quickly if people’s needs changed.

People and relatives were happy with the care and support provided..

People were involved in the care and support that they received. People told us they had choice over the support they received and nothing was done without their consent. Staff understood the principles of consent and delivering care that was individual to the person.

Staff responded quickly if someone was unwell and supported people to access other health professionals when needed. People were supported to take their medicine safely and when they needed it.

The provider had systems to measure the safety and quality of the service. Checks and audits were completed regularly to make sure that good standards of care were maintained.