Background to this inspection
Updated
7 April 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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
One inspector completed this inspection.
Service and service type
Unique Herts Care is a domiciliary (home care) 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 72 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 24 February 2020 and ended on 05 March 2020. We visited the office location on 24 February 2020.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager, supervisor and two care assistants, two people who used the service and two relatives.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and other quality assurance records.
Updated
7 April 2020
About the service
Unique Herts Care is a domiciliary (home care) agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. Not everyone using Unique Herts Care received the regulated activity of 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. There were 14 people receiving the regulated activity of personal care at the time of the inspection.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe. Staff received training in safeguarding and knew how to report their concerns both internally and externally. Risks were managed appropriately. Staff were provided with regular guidance and support from the management team.
Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people's needs. They received regular training and were positive about their induction to the service.
People were supported to manage their medicines appropriately. Any health needs were clearly identified in people's care plans. Staff ensured that people were supported to access health services, where required.
People and relatives told us that staff were caring. People received care in a way that promoted their dignity and encouraged independence.
Care plans were developed when people started using the service and were personalised. People told us that staff were responsive to their needs and supported them in the way they wanted.
The provider had implemented effective audits and governance systems to check the quality and safety of the care people received. This allowed for the effective monitoring of patterns and trends and for learning to take place.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at Last Inspection
At our last inspection, the service was rated Good (published 30 August 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor the service to ensure people receive safe, compassionate, high quality Care. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.