Archived: Newbury Care Services

Newbury Care Services is a domiciliary care service, registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection the service was providing personal care to 18 people.

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 were very positive about the care provided. People were cared for by staff who knew how to keep them safe and protect them from avoidable harm. People received their medicines as prescribed and systems were in place for the safe management and supply of medicines. There was a range of risk assessments in place. Incidents and accidents were investigated, and actions were taken to prevent recurrence. Staff followed infection control and prevention procedures.

The service continued to be effective. People’s needs were assessed, and care was planned and delivered to meet people’s needs, legislation and good practice guidance. Care was delivered by staff that were safely recruited, well trained and knowledgeable about people’s needs. Peoples nutrition and hydration needs were met.

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 were knowledgeable of the people they supported and were responsive to their individual needs and choices. People were cared for by staff that were kind and compassionate, maintaining their privacy and treating them with dignity and respect. People and their relatives were included and supported to take decisions about how their needs were met.

People’s views and concerns were listened to and there was a range of ways for people to give feedback.

The service was well led. Systems were in place to monitor the quality of care provided and to promote the continuous improvement of the service. The management and staff worked in partnership with external health care providers and community services and developed positive relationships, to benefit people’s health and wellbeing.

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 3 March 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.

This was our first inspection of this service since it had been registered with us in October 2015.

Newbury Care Services are registered to deliver personal care. They provide support to adults living in their own homes. Five people were currently using the service.

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. The registered manager was not available on the day of the inspection.

Staff supported people in a way that made them feel safe. Staff understood the procedures they should follow if they witnessed or suspected that a person was being abused or harmed. Criminal records checks were undertaken before staff were able to begin their role, however where concerns were detailed on criminal checks no risk assessments were in place. People received the support they needed and were satisfied with the timings of calls. Staff had knowledge of the risks posed to people and supported them safely.

Staff understood people’s needs and provided specific care, however it was not always clear in the documentation that people’s preferences had been noted and no history of the person had been provided. People knew how to raise complaints or concerns and felt that they would be listened to and the appropriate action would be taken.

People were happy with the service they received and felt the service was led in an appropriate way. Staff were supported in their roles. Staff felt that their views or opinions were listened to. Quality assurance audits were not carried out appropriately.

Staff had the skills and knowledge required to support people effectively. Staff received an induction prior to them working for the service and they felt prepared to do their job. Staff could access on-going training and regular supervision to assist them in their role. Staff knew how to support people in line with the Mental Capacity Act and gained their consent before assisting or supporting them. Staff assisted people to access food and drink and encouraged people to eat healthily.

People were involved in making their own decisions about their care and their own specific needs. People felt listened to, had the information they needed and were consulted about their care. Staff provided dignified care and showed respect to people. People were encouraged to retain a high level of independence with staff there ready to support them if they needed help.