Background to this inspection
Updated
12 July 2018
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, looked at the overall quality of the service, and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
The inspection took place on 24 May, 4 June and 18 June 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location provides a domiciliary care service to people who may be out during the day. We needed to be sure that they would be available to speak to us.
The inspection team consisted of an inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The expert had experience of caring for an older person with dementia.
Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return. 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 reviewed the information included in the PIR along with information we held about the service, for example, statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law.
We reviewed records which included seven people's care plans, daily notes and associated records, four staff recruitment and supervision records and records of training. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service such as the Service Improvement Plan (SIP), quality assurance audits, staff rotas and policies including infection control, medicines management and safeguarding.
We spoke with the registered manager, training manager, three staff members, seven people who used the service and three people's relatives. After the inspection the registered manager sent us further evidence to review including the provider’s ‘new starter checklist’, staff handbook, supervisor’s induction programme, complaints brochure, service user guide, terms and conditions and a record of a quality assurance inspection.
Updated
12 July 2018
The inspection took place on 24 May, 4 June and 18 June and was announced.
Brightspark Care Limited is a domiciliary care agency. It is registered to provide personal care and support for people in their own homes in the county of Hampshire. At the time of our inspection Brightspark Care was supporting 32 people with personal care.
The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 provider had suitable arrangements in place to protect people from avoidable harm and abuse. Staff we spoke with were clear about their responsibilities and had received the required safeguarding training. Sufficient numbers of staff were deployed to support people's needs and maintain their safety. Safe recruitment processes ensured the provider only employed staff who were suitable to work in a care setting.
Risks to people were assessed and recorded in their care plans. Records showed that these were managed safely. There were arrangements in place to store, record and administer medicines safely.
People received care from suitably skilled staff who had received regular training and supervision to help develop their knowledge. The provider had an infection control policy in place and people were protected from the risk of acquiring an infection.
The registered manager recorded accidents and incidents and supported staff to reflect on these to prevent recurrences.
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 had received training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and were confidently able to describe how they would apply its principles when caring for people.
People were supported to maintain a balanced diet. Care staff prepared meals for them where appropriate.
People were supported to access care from relevant health and social care professionals.
Staff had developed respectful, caring relationships with the people they supported. Staff encouraged people to express themselves and promoted their independence, privacy and dignity.
Care plans were written in partnership with people and their families where appropriate and regularly updated. These reflected people’s individual needs and choices.
Complaints and concerns were responded to promptly and investigated thoroughly. People and their relatives told us they knew how to raise a complaint.
Staff supported people in need of end of life care to ensure that they experienced a comfortable, pain free death.
The provider had robust systems in place for monitoring the quality within the service to drive improvements. Actions were captured in the Service Improvement Plan (SIP) which included dates for completion.
Staff worked effectively in partnership with health and social care professionals to meet people's needs.