Background to this inspection
Updated
19 November 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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary 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 48 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 17 September 2021. We met with the registered manager on 02 November 2021 to provide feedback.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with two people who used the service and a further three peoples relatives. We spoke with two staff and the registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records. We looked at a variety of records in relation to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, audit tools and training plans.
After the inspection
After the inspection we reviewed care records and sought clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found.
Updated
19 November 2021
About the service
Time2Care (Barnet) Ltd is a care agency providing personal care and support to people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection the service was providing personal care to eight people.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is to 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
Risks to people’s health and safety were not always assessed. However, staff knew how to support people to keep them safe.
Incidents that occurred placing people at risk of harm were not always recorded and did not always prompt a review of people’s care needs.
People’s needs were assessed before the service provided them with care or support. However these did not provide enough guidance to staff. Staff had not received the required training to help them acquire the skills and knowledge to fulfil their role and responsibilities. v
People felt safe and trusted staff. Staff had received training to recognise and report signs of abuse. People were supported by a small and consistent staff team who they felt comfortable with. Safe recruitment processes were in place.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People told us staff were caring and knew their needs and preferences well. People were treated with dignity and respect and their independence was promoted and encouraged by staff.
People were involved in reviewing their care and felt staff were responsive to their changing needs.
Systems and processes were in place to monitor the quality of the service, and to seek the views of the people who used it. However, these processes had not identified the issues highlighted during this inspection.
The registered manager was open and transparent and promoted a person-centred culture within the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 5 December 2016 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection as the service was unrated.
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.