24 May 2018
During a routine inspection
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.