Archived: Clarity Homecare Ltd

Updated 10 August 2017

We carried out this inspection visit 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 visit took place on 18 July 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we wanted to make sure staff were available to speak with us. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. This was the provider’s first inspection since registering with us in September 2016.

We checked the information we held about the service and the provider. This included notifications that the provider had sent to us about incidents at the service and information that we had received from the public. We also spoke with the local authority who provided us with their current monitoring information. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to formulate our inspection plan.

We used a range of different methods to help us understand people’s experiences. We visited two people in their own homes and spoke with two relatives. We spoke with three members of care staff, the care manager and the registered manager. We looked at care records for five people to see if their records were accurate and up to date. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including quality checks

Updated 10 August 2017

We inspected this service on 18 July 2017. This was an announced inspection and we telephoned the week prior to our inspection in order to ensure staff would be available and to arrange home visits.The service provides care in people’s homes to older people and people with debilitating illness and long term conditions such as dementia. The service is available in the Buxton area. At the time of the inspection 50 people were being supported by the service. This was their services first inspection.

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. The manager works across two sites. The other site is registered separately and receives its own inspection independently.

The provider had not completed audits to reflect the service improvements or to drive safety aspects relating to risks. Staff enjoyed working for the service, however would have liked some additional support for their role. Care plans had not always been updated to reflect people’s needs.

Where people had not got capacity to make decisions about their own care an assessment had not been completed to reflect how important decisions had been made.

People felt safe when being supported by staff and that staff knew how to protect people if they suspected they were at risk of abuse or harm. Recruitment checks were made to confirm staff were of good character to work with people and sufficient staff were available to meet people's support needs. Risks to people had been identified and staff understood how to support people to reduce risk. When required specific risk assessments had been completed in relation to equipment or supporting people in the community.

Staff had received updated information about people’s needs so they could provide the care that was required. People felt comfortable with staff and had developed relationships with them which were positive. The staff team that people received was consistent and provided flexibility if changes were required. When required staff had supported people with their meal choices to ensure their nutritional needs had been met. Other people received support with their medicines or the application of creams, this was done safety and in accordance with guidance.

People were positive about the way staff treated them and said staff were kind and compassionate. People felt comfortable raising any issues or concerns and there were arrangements in place to deal with people's complaints.

We found a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.