We carried out a review of the data available to us about Fitzpatrick Total Home Care Limited on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Fitzpatrick Total Home Care Limited, you can give feedback on this service.
Fitzpatrick Total Home Care Limited is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people living in their own homes. 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. At the time of our inspection there were 32 people receiving personal care support.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider’s processes for monitoring the quality and safety of the service were not always effective in demonstrating what actions were taken when issues were identified. The provider had not always ensured all appropriate notifications were sent to CQC in line with their regulatory responsibility. We have made a recommendation about the provider’s quality assurance systems.
The provider had systems in place to recruit staff safely; however, checks were not always fully documented. We have made a recommendation about the provider’s recruitment processes. We received some mixed feedback from staff about how supported they felt in their roles.
People told us they were happy with the care they received and spoke positively about the staff and management team. People told us staff were reliable and they received their care at their preferred times. Staff understood people’s needs and how they liked to be supported. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People told us they felt safe. Staff knew how to recognise and report any signs of abuse or concerns about people’s safety. Risks to people’s safety were assessed and documented. The provider had processes in place to monitor the administration of medicines and people’s care plans contained information about how to support them. People and relatives felt involved in the service and told us they were able to give feedback and discuss any concerns with the registered manager.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 13 February 2018).
Why we inspected
We received information of concern in relation to the timing of people’s care visits and management oversight at the service. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has remained good. However, we have found evidence the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the well-led section of this full report.
Recommendations
We have made recommendations in relation to staff recruitment and management processes for monitoring the quality and safety of the service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
At the last inspection, on 13 July 2015, the service was rated Good overall with requires improvement in Safe. This was because we found concerns relating to management of people’s medication as it was not always possible to monitor if people were receiving prescribed medication. At this inspection, we found the service remained Good in Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well Led and improvements had been made within the Safe domain.
Fitzpatrick Total Home Care Limited is a small domiciliary care agency, providing personal care support to people in their own homes around the Halstead area.
The service has a registered manager. ‘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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The service was safe. The provider’s recruitment processes ensured that appropriate checks were carried out before staff commenced employment. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet the needs of people and keep them safe from potential harm or abuse. People’s health and wellbeing needs were assessed and reviewed to minimise risk to health. The service had a good management and monitoring structure in place for medication.
The service was effective. People were cared for and supported by staff who had received training to meet their needs. The registered manager had a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were supported to eat and drink enough as to ensure they maintained a balanced diet and referrals to health and social care services was made when required.
The service was caring. Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences. Staff always worked hard to promote people’s independence through encouraging and supporting people to make informed decisions.
The service was responsive. People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis and also when there was a change in care needs. People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities. The service responded to complaints received in a timely manner.
The service was Well Led. The service had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis. The registered manager told us that current systems and processes where being updated and improved.
The inspection took place on 14 July 2015 and was announced.
Fitzpatrick Total Home Care Limited is a small domiciliary care agency, providing personal care support to people in their own homes around the Halstead area. At the time of our visit the service was supporting 59 people.
The service has a registered manager. 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 were not always safe because staff did not administer medication in a consistent way.
Risk assessments were carried out and measures put in place to manage and minimise any risk identified.
People received support from a consistent team of staff who were well supported and trained.
Care staff understood the need to obtain consent when providing care.
People were supported with meals and to make choices about the food and drink they received. Staff supported people to maintain good health and access health services when needed.
Assessments had been carried out and care plans were developed which reflected individual’s needs and preferences. People knew how to complain and the service responded well when concerns were raised.
Staff were motivated to provide good quality care. The provider was open and transparent when things went wrong. They made difficult decisions when necessary to ensure the service remained sustainable. Systems were in place to monitor and audit the service and were used to drive improvements.
We found a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we have told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.