Archived: Caring Comes 1st Ltd

Updated 16 January 2020

The inspection:

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

One inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type:

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because senior staff are often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be available. The inspection took place between the 13 and 20 November 2019. We visited the office location on these dates to see the registered manager and to review care records and policies and procedures. We also contacted staff after the inspection.

What we did:

Prior to the inspection we looked at the information we had about the service This information included the statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We had not requested the provider to complete the Provider Information Record (PIR) before the inspection. This is a form that asks the provider to give information about the service, tells us what the service does well and the improvements they plan to make

During the inspection we spoke to the care manager, an assistant manager, one care coordinators and four care staff. We looked at five people’s care records, four staff files and other records relating to the management of the service including policies and procedures. After the inspection we spoke to two people using the service and four relatives and asked them for their views about the service.

Updated 16 January 2020

About the service:

Caring Comes 1st Ltd is a domiciliary care agency. At the time of the inspection they were providing personal care to 26 people in their own homes. 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:

People told us they felt safe and that staff were kind, supported them in a dignified and respectful manner and maintained their privacy and independence. People received support from staff who they knew well.

People were supported by staff who promoted their independence. People received support from a consistent team of staff who were skilled and competent in providing care and support. Staff and the registered manager showed a genuine interest and passion to deliver personalised care based on people's likes, wishes and preferences.

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. Staff knew people well however some care plans contained basic information relating to people's individual support and care needs.

Communication with health and social care professionals was effective in ensuring people received joined up care. The provider had aims and standards for the service and told people what they should expect from staff and the service in respect of the quality of care they received. The provider worked in partnership with other agencies this supported people in ensuring any changes were raise with professionals and those funding the persons care needs.

Rating at last inspection:

The service was rated good at our last inspection (published 8 June 2017). No changes have been made to the rating of Good at this inspection.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. Further inspections will be planned in line with our inspection schedule or in response to concerns.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.