Archived: Day and Nightcare Live-in Care Ltd

Day and Nightcare Live in Care is a subsidiary of Day and Nightime DCA Witney. They provide live in carers to both the private sector and those who are funded by the local authority. At the time of our inspection 12 people were using the service.

There was not a registered manager in post. 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. At the time of this inspection the manager was applying to CQC to register as registered manager.

The service was operating from a location that was not part of the conditions of their registration. This address was 9 Hollow Way, Cowley, Oxford, OX44 2NA.

Before the inspection we asked the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give us key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This document had not been completed.

People told us they were confident they would be listened to and action would be taken if they raised a concern. The service sought people’s opinions through regular surveys. The service had systems to assess the quality of the service provided. Learning needs were identified and action taken to make improvements which promoted people’s safety and quality of life. Systems were in place that ensured people were protected against the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care. However, there was no system to investigate and analyse accidents and incidents. The manager was aware of this concern and was planning to put a system in place.

We were greeted warmly by staff at the service who seemed genuinely pleased to see us. The atmosphere in the office was open and friendly.

People told us they were safe. Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding. Staff had received regular training to make sure they stayed up to date with recognising and reporting safety concerns. The service had systems in place to notify the appropriate authorities where concerns were identified.

People were supported by staff who were knowledgeable about people’s needs and provided support with compassion and kindness. People received quality care that was personalised and met their needs.

Where risks to people had been identified, risk assessments were in place and action had been taken to manage these risks. Staff were aware of people’s needs and followed guidance to keep them safe. People received their medicines as prescribed.

There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. Staffing levels were consistently maintained. The provider followed safe recruitment procedures and conducted background checks to ensure staff were suitable for their role.

Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and applied its principles in their work. The MCA protects the rights of people who may not be able to make particular decisions themselves. The manager was knowledgeable about the MCA and how to ensure the rights of people who lacked capacity were protected.

Staff spoke positively about the support they received from the manager and senior staff. Staff supervision and meetings were scheduled as were annual appraisals. Staff told us the manager was approachable and there was a good level of communication within the service.

People told us the service was friendly, responsive and well managed. People knew the manager and staff and spoke positively about them. The service sought people’s views and opinions and acted upon them.

People said care workers were responsive to their needs and requests. One said, 'my carers are very polite and well trained, they are very flexible and help me with anything'. They said care workers knew how to meet their needs and felt that care workers did their best. Another person said, 'I would be lost without them my care is excellent".

The people we spoke with felt involved in their care. One person told us 'my carers always ask me what I would like'. One care worker told us, 'He tells me what he wants; he is always involved and makes his own decisions'.

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that ensured people's safety and welfare. People we spoke with felt that care workers were well trained and understood their needs. One care worker told us they had received a lot of training and felt supported in their role.

People were protected from abuse because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening.

We saw there was an effective recruitment and selection process in place. We saw that appropriate checks had been carried out before care workers began to work.

During our inspection, we looked at the quality assurance systems that were in place. People who used the service told us they knew how to complain if they were not happy.

People who used the service told us that staff were punctual and reliable. They told us that staff generally knew how to meet people's needs and one person felt that staff's 'communication skills could be better'. People told us that everybody worked together to ensure the best outcome was achieved. A relative told us 'in the beginning it was all new and it took a while for us all to adjust. But we just kept on discussing and talking things through and now it feels as if we work together as a team and a partnership. When there was a problem we talked it through, everyone was asked how it could be best resolved and together we found a way to make things better'.