31 January 2018
During a routine 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.