Archived: Careing For U UK Ltd

Updated 23 February 2018

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 31 January 2018 and was announced. One inspector carried out the inspection.

We gave the provider 2 days' notice of the inspection as the service was small and provided care and support to people living in their own homes and we needed to make sure the registered manager would be available to assist with the inspection.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. This included the last inspection report, statutory notifications about incidents and events affecting people using the service. We also viewed the provider’s action plan sent to us after the last inspection.

At this inspection we spoke with the registered manager. We reviewed the care records for two people using the service. We also looked at two staff recruitment files and records related to the running of the service. These included, checks and audits carried out on care records, care workers and satisfaction surveys to monitor quality in the service and make improvements.

We emailed seven care workers prior to the inspection for their feedback on the service and six responded to us.

Following on from the inspection we spoke with one relative on the telephone and emailed a second relative for their views on the service. We made several attempts to speak with one person using the service but were unable to make contact with them.

After the inspection the registered manager sent us the staff training plan and a sample of policies and procedures.

Updated 23 February 2018

This comprehensive inspection took place on 31 January 2018. We gave the provider 2 days' notice of the inspection as the service was small and provided care and support to people living in their own homes and we needed to make sure the registered manager would be available to assist with the inspection.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides support to mainly older adults. At the time of this inspection there were three people receiving care and support from the service.

Not everyone using Careing For U Ltd receives a regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

There was a registered manager in post, who was also the owner. 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.

Following the last inspection on the 1 March 2017, we rated the key questions, ‘Is the service safe?’ and ‘Is the service well-led?’ ‘Requires Improvement’ and the service overall was rated ‘Requires improvement’. We also found a breach of the regulation in relation to good governance and asked the provider to complete an action plan to tell us what improvements they would make at the service. They told us they would make the necessary improvements by 4 April 2017.

During this inspection we found that the provider had made improvements to the quality assurance systems at the service. The provider had introduced audits on different aspects of the service, such as people’s care records and staff files. This helped them to monitor the service and to make adjustments where necessary. Improvements had also been made to the recruitment procedures. Literacy tests had been introduced and the provider verified references where this was needed to check they were genuine.

Feedback from people’s relatives was positive. They described care workers as caring, reliable and friendly.

The provider had systems to safeguard people from abuse. Care workers completed safeguarding training and knew how to report any concerns.

Care workers confirmed they were well trained and supported by the registered manager. Support was provided through one to one and group meetings. Training was provided on various topics and refresher training had been arranged that was relevant to care worker’s roles and responsibilities.

People's needs had been assessed in line with good practice guidance and they had been able to express their views and preferences. People did not require assistance with health appointments but any changes were acted on by the registered manager.

Care workers carried out minimal tasks relating to meal provision. However, they recorded the meals and drinks given to people so that their nutritional needs could be monitored.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The systems in the service supported this practice.

There were sufficient numbers of care workers employed to meet people’s needs.

The provider had arrangements to help protect people from the risk of the spread of infection as the care workers wore protective equipment, such as gloves and aprons, when providing care.

Relatives told us they knew how to make a complaint and there were systems in place to manage and respond to complaints.

People did not need support with managing their medicines. However, care workers were trained to provide this service as and when required.