Background to this inspection
Updated
30 June 2015
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 21 & 28 May 2015 and was announced.
The provider was given 24 hours notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in.
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Prior to this inspection the Care Quality Commission (CQC) received information of concern relating to the recruitment of staff at the service. We reviewed all the information we held about the service, the service provider and spoke with the local authority.
During our inspection we spoke with one person and the relatives of two people who used the service. We also spoke with the senior care coordinator, the provider, the registered manager from the provider’s second service and three staff.
Most of the people who used the service were unable to communicate verbally with us due to their medical conditions.
We reviewed four care records, two medication records, eight staff files and records relating to the management of the service.
Updated
30 June 2015
This inspection took place on 21 & 28 May 2015 and was announced.
HomeAid Community Care Services provides care to people in their own homes. On the day of the inspection 6 people were using the service.
There was not a registered manager in post, although one had been appointed and was due to start the following month. The service was being overseen by the registered manager from the provider’s second service and the provider. 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 using the service. Staff were aware of what they considered to be abuse and how to report this.
Staff knew how to use risk assessments to keep people safe alongside supporting them to be as independent as possible.
There were sufficient staff, with the correct skill mix, to support people with their needs.
Recruitment processes were robust. New staff had undertaken the providers’ induction programme and training to allow them to support people confidently.
Medicines were stored, administered and handled safely.
Staff were knowledgeable about the needs of individual people they supported. People were supported to make choices around their care and daily lives.
Staff had attended a variety of training to ensure they were able to provide care based on current practice when assisting people.
Staff always gained consent before supporting people.
There were policies and procedures in place in relation to the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff knew how to use them to protect people who were unable to make decisions for themselves.
People were able to make choices about the food and drink they had, and staff gave support when required.
People had access to a variety of health care professionals if required to make sure they received on-going treatment and care.
People were treated with kindness and compassion by the staff.
People and their relatives were involved in making decisions and planning their care, and their views were listened to and acted upon.
Staff treated people with dignity and respect.
There was a complaints procedure in place which had been used effectively.
People were complimentary about the staff. It was obvious from our conversations that staff, people who used the service and the provider had good relationships.
We saw that effective quality monitoring systems were in place. A variety of audits were carried out and used to drive improvements.