We carried out a review of the data available to us about PCM Homecare Limited on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about PCM Homecare Limited, you can give feedback on this service.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their relatives told us they felt safe and well cared for by staff and the management. We received positive feedback about the quality of care provided.
Staff were recruited safely. People were safeguarded against the risk of abuse and were supported by a consistent team of staff who understood their needs well. Risks to people’s safety had been identified, assessed and monitored.
Systems were in place for the safe management of medicines. People were supported to take their medicines as prescribed and checks were completed of staff competency to administer medicines.
Infection prevention and control procedures followed government guidance including COVID-19 rules. Staff used personal protective equipment appropriately to keep people safe. Lessons had been learnt and improvements made as a result.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service people received. Staff felt supported by the registered manager and received on-going training, spot checks and supervision. There was an open culture within the service and staff worked together as a team. The registered manager worked in partnership with other health and social care professionals to ensure people’s care and support needs were met.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection. The last rating for this service was good (published 31 March 2020).
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about safeguarding and staffing. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the safe and well led sections of this report.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for PCM Homecare on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
People’s experience of using this service: People and relatives were very complimentary of the staff and the service they received.
Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were cared for and supported by staff who had received the appropriate training. Staff were employed following the appropriate recruitment checks. There were systems in place to minimise the risk of infection and to learn lessons from accidents and incidents. There were safe medication procedures for staff to follow.
Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences of care, staff promoted people’s independence. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.
People were supported to eat and drink enough to ensure they maintained a balanced diet. People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. The registered manager had policies in place to respond to complaints.
The provider had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis.
Rating at last inspection: The last rating for this service was Good. (last report published 24 March 2017).
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor information and intelligence we receive about the service to ensure good quality is provided to people.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
There was a registered manager in place. 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.
The service had appropriate systems in place to protect people from harm and uphold their rights. Staff had the knowledge, understanding and up to date training in safeguarding adults from abuse and supporting people with limited capacity to make their own decisions.
People’s medicines were given to them safely and in a timely way and risks to people’s health and wellbeing were appropriately assessed, managed and reviewed.
There were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people’s needs. A recruitment process was in place to protect people and staff had been employed safely with the right skills and knowledge to provide care and support to people.
People were assisted with the preparation of meals of their choosing which met their nutritional needs. They were treated with kindness and respect by staff and their dignity was maintained. Staff understood people’s needs and provided care and support accordingly. Caring relationships had been developed and people were fully involved in their care arrangements.
Quality assurance arrangements were in place but there were minor improvements needed in relation to record keeping. There was a system for responding to complaints and concerns. The visible leadership of the service showed that person centred care was being delivered to people who used the service.
We have made a recommendation that the service look at the way they record information in line with best practice.