Background to this inspection
Updated
16 June 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 inspection took place on 25 and 26 April 2016 and was announced. We told the registered manager two days before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because we needed to be sure the registered manager would be in the office. This inspection was undertaken by two inspectors.
Before our inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included details of its registration, previous inspection reports and any statutory notifications submitted by the service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law. 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. The PIR was returned as requested.
We contacted professionals and received feedback. This information was reviewed and used to assist with our inspection. We visited the office and spoke with the registered manager, two client managers, two senior carers, two carers, a rota co-ordinator, the trainer and the recruitment manager. As part of this inspection we visited three people in their homes. We also spoke with 10 people. We spent time looking at records, which included 15 people's support plans. We looked at 12 staff recruitment, training and supervision records. We examined information relating to the management of the service, such as quality assurance audits and reports. We also looked at the safeguarding adults and whistleblowing policies and procedures and the complaints policy.
Updated
16 June 2016
The inspection took place on 25 and 26 April 2016 and was announced with 48 hours' notice.
Care2Care is a Domiciliary Care Agency (DCA) registered to provide personal care in people’s own homes. The agency office is based in Didcot. At the time of this inspection 132 people were supported by the agency.
The service had 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.
Medicines were not always recorded as administered. Risk assessments were in place which set out how to support people in a way that mitigated the risks they faced. There were enough staff working in the service to support people. Checks were carried out on staff before they began working at the service. Staff had the knowledge and training to recognise and report concerns to keep people safe.
People were supported by staff that had the training and support from their managers to deliver effective care and carry out their roles and responsibilities. The service operated within the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and consent to care was sought by staff before care was undertaken. People’s hydration and nutrition was well managed. People were supported to have access to health professionals where needed.
People had caring staff who took the time to get to know those they supported. People were provided with information about their care and privacy and dignity was respected and promoted.
People had been assessed to determine if the service was able to meet their needs. Care plans were accurate, up to date and contained personalised information about people’s care and emotional needs and relevant personal history. Regular reviews of people’s care needs had taken place. People knew how to complain and complaints were responded to in line with policy.
The registered manager promoted a positive culture that meant people had personalised care from staff that cared for them. The service was well managed with staff commenting how supported they felt and how much they enjoyed their jobs. Records were well kept and up to date which meant care was monitored closely. Quality assurance was monitored and actioned if changes or improvements were needed.