Background to this inspection
Updated
8 April 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place on 01 and 03 February 2017 and was announced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. The provider had 48 hours' notice that an inspection would take place. This was because we needed to ensure that the registered manager/ provider would be available to answer any questions we
had or provide information that we needed. We reviewed the information we held about the service including notifications of incidents that the provider
had sent us. Notifications are reports that the provider is required to send to us to inform us about incidents that have happened at the service, such as accidents or a serious injury.
We liaised with the local authority commissioning team to identify areas we may wish to focus upon in the planning of this inspection. The team are responsible for monitoring services that provide care to people. We spoke with three people who use the service, four relatives and two staff members. We looked at four people's care records and three staff member's recruitment, supervision and training records. We looked at systems in place to monitor the quality and management of the service.
Updated
8 April 2017
This announced inspection took place on 01 February 2017 with phone calls made to people using the service and their relatives on 03 February 2017. The provider had 48 hours' notice that an inspection would take place, so we could ensure staff would be available to answer any questions we had and provide the information that we needed.
This was our first inspection of this service since it had been registered with us on 26 May 2016.
Charlotte's Care Services are registered to deliver personal care. They provide support to adults living in their own homes. Some people using the service may have a physical disability. 11 people were using the service at the time of the inspection.
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 available on the day of the inspection.
Recruitment checks did not provide adequate information in order to safeguard people. 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. 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. People received medicines when they required them, however the recording of medicines administered was not always adequate.
Quality assurance audits were not carried out appropriately, so that it was unclear if any patterns or trends were developing which may impact upon the service. 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.
Staff understood people's needs and provided specific care, people's preferences had been noted, however 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.
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.
You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.