We undertook an announced inspection of Goodluck Care Limited - Hounslow on 21 September 2018. We told the provider 48 hours before our visit that we would be coming because the location provided a domiciliary care service for people in their own homes and the registered manager and staff might be not be available to assist with the inspection if they were out visiting people. This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. At the time of our inspection there were 39 people using the service, most of whom were older adults with a range of care needs, including those related to mental health and dementia, and two people with a learning disability.
There was 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 last inspection on 27 and 28 July 2017, we rated the service requires improvement as we found breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in relation to the safe care and treatment of people using the service and good governance. The provider sent us an action plan on 16 October 2017 telling us they would be compliant by 15 December 2017. At this inspection, we found that improvements had been made and the provider was meeting the regulations.
There were regular audits of medicines and appropriate action was taken when issues were identified. However, staff did not have their competencies to manage medicines, checked and there were some recording errors.
We have made a recommendation in relation to the management of medicines.
The risks to people's wellbeing and safety had been assessed, and there was information on people’s records about how to mitigate these risks.
People's needs were assessed prior to receiving a service and care plans were developed from the assessments. Care plans contained the necessary information for staff to know how to support people.
The service employed enough staff to meet people's needs safely and had contingency plans in place in the event of staff’s absence. Recruitment checks were in place to obtain information about new staff before they supported people unsupervised.
There were procedures for safeguarding adults and staff were aware of these. Staff knew how to respond to medical emergencies or significant changes in a person's wellbeing.
The provider had systems in place to manage incidents and accidents and took appropriate action to minimise the risk of reoccurrence.
People were protected from the risk of infection and care workers were provided with appropriate equipment such as gloves and aprons when they provided support.
The registered manager was aware of their responsibilities in line with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and staff had received training on this. People had consented to their care and support and had their mental capacity assessed prior to receiving a service from the agency.
People's health and nutritional needs had been assessed, recorded and were monitored to ensure these were met.
People were supported at the end of their life and staff received training in end of life care.
Care staff received an induction and appropriate support before delivering care and support to people. People were supported by staff who were adequately trained and supervised.
Feedback about the service from people and their relatives was positive. People said they had regular staff visiting which enabled them to build a rapport and get to know them.
People we spoke with and their relatives said that they were happy with the level of care they were receiving from the service.
There were systems in place to monitor and assess the quality and effectiveness of the service, and the provider ensured that areas for improvement were identified and addressed.
There was a complaints procedure in place which the provider followed. People felt confident that if they raised a complaint, they would be listened to and their concerns addressed.
People, staff and relatives told us that the registered manager and senior team were approachable and supportive. There was a clear management structure, and they encouraged an open and transparent culture within the service. People and staff were supported to raise concerns and make suggestions about where improvements could be made.