Background to this inspection
Updated
14 May 2021
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
The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes, flats and specialised housing.
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
This inspection was announced and we gave the agency two days’ notice. 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 April 2021 and ended on 6 May 2021. We visited the office location on 28 April 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed the last inspection report and information we had received about the service since that date. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.
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 this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We reviewed a range of records, policies and practices relating to the management of the agency. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. We spoke with a director of the service, the registered manager and deputy manager.
After the inspection
We contacted all the staff team to gain their views on how the agency is run. We contacted three health care professionals and spoke with three people and three relatives about their experiences of the agency.
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
The registered manager sent us records to clarify staff recruitment procedures and the latest quality survey results.
Updated
14 May 2021
About the service
Time 2 Care is a domiciliary care agency. At the time of inspection there were approximately 48 people using the 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 were protected from abuse by staff who had been safely recruited, trained and supervised in their roles. Staff undertook training in safeguarding and knew how to recognise abuse and the correct action to take.
Staff undertook assessments of risks to people. These were undertaken and mitigated as far as possible. People received their medicines in a safe way.
People were protected from infections by staff who wore the correct personal protective equipment. Staff were trained in infection prevention and control and took the extra precautions necessary in line with the current COVID-19 pandemic.
People felt safe in their homes and were treated with kindness by care staff. People told us they were happy with the care they received. They received a rota which included a photograph of the care worker to expect at each visit.
Staff enjoyed working for the agency and were motivated in their roles. They felt listened to and included in improving care for people. The agency had an open and transparent culture and learnt from mistakes. Staff described good morale in the team and felt supported and valued by the management team.
Regular checks and monitoring of the quality of service delivered were undertaken.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 18 March 2020) with one breach of Regulation 17 - Good governance.
The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.
At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of the regulation.
Why we inspected
We carried out an announced inspection of this service on 28 April 2021.
The inspection was prompted by concerns raised by the provider regarding their current rating and the impact this was having on their business.
This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Time 2 Care 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.