Background to this inspection
Updated
26 January 2019
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.
Our comprehensive inspection was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of our inspection as we needed to be sure someone would be in the office to speak with us. Inspection activity began when we attended the office on 19 December 2018. We spoke to people, relatives and staff on 19, 20 and 21 December by telephone. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service, including past inspection reports and notifications about incidents which the provider is required to send us. We also contacted other bodies such as the local authority, safeguarding teams to ask if they held any information about the service. We did not receive any information of concern.
We did not send a provider information return (PIR) before this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection we spoke with three people and three people’s relatives by telephone, and six members of staff. We visited the office and spoke with the registered manager. We looked at two people’s care records including medicines administration records and daily notes, five recruitment files and other documentation relating to the running of the service.
Updated
26 January 2019
Dimensions is a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there were 32 people using the service.
At our last inspection we rated the service good.
There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
People told us they felt safe.
We saw evidence of a robust medicine management in place and staff were trained and competent in this area to ensure all policy and procedures were followed.
People and their relatives told us they were happy using the agency and felt the staff had the right training to be able to support them with their care needs.
Individual risks to people's safety were known by staff. Accident and incidents were reported and robust in looking at any lessons learnt.
Staff had regular opportunities to update their skills and professional development. Staff demonstrated an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff were motivated and worked well as a team, with effective support from one another and from the management team. Staff had supervisions and an annual appraisal as well as team meetings. We saw documentation to support this.
Care records contained clear information covering all aspects of people’s care and support and staff had a caring approach to working with the people who used the service.
There was a clear management structure so that all staff knew their roles and responsibilities. There was an open and transparent culture in which staff felt valued and able to approach the registered manager.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.