Archived: C3 Care Ltd

Updated 21 September 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 the 20 August 2015. It was an announced inspection. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because the manager is sometimes out of the office supporting staff or visiting people who use the service. We needed to be sure that they would be in. This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

We spoke with one person who used the service, two relatives, two care staff, the deputy manager and the registered manager. We looked at three people’s care records. We looked at a range of records relating to the management of the service. The methods we used to gather information included pathway tracking, which is capturing the experiences of a sample of people by following a person’s route through the service and getting their views on it.

Before the visit we reviewed the information we held about the service and contacted the local authority commissioners of the service.

Updated 21 September 2015

We undertook an announced inspection of C3 Care Ltd domiciliary care agency (DCA) on 20 August 2015. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming. C3 Care Ltd provides personal care services to people in their own homes. The service had registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in June 2015. At the time of our inspection four people were using the 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 told us they benefitted from caring relationships with the staff. One person said “They are very good, and friendly. I usually see the same carers so we are getting to know each other well”. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and people received their care when they expected.

People were safe. Staff had received regular training to make sure they stayed up to date with recognising and reporting concerns. The registered manager had systems in place to notify the appropriate authorities where concerns relating to suspected abuse were identified.

Where risks to people had been identified risk assessments were in place and action had been taken to reduce the risks. Staff were aware of people’s needs and followed guidance to keep them safe.

Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and applied its principles in their work. The MCA protects the right of people who may not be able to make particular decisions themselves. The registered manager was knowledgeable about the MCA and how to ensure the rights of people who lacked capacity were protected.

People told us the service responded to their needs and wishes. They were involved in the planning of their care and where people expressed preferences these were respected. 

People told us they were confident they would be listened to and action would be taken. The service had systems to assess the quality of the service. Learning was identified and action taken to make improvements which improved people’s safety and quality of life. Systems were in place that ensured people were protected against the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care.

Staff spoke positively about the support they received from the registered manager and management team. Staff supervision records were up to date and annual appraisals had been scheduled. Staff told us the registered manager was approachable and there was a good level of communication within the service.

Staff shared the registered manager’s vision for the service and spoke about it with passion and commitment.

People knew the registered manager and told us they were friendly, approachable and supportive. One person said “I know the manager. She comes round periodically, we get on quite well”.