Archived: Nimble Care

Updated 21 December 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 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 took place on 14 November 2018 and was announced. We told the provider one day before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because the registered manager is sometimes out of the office supporting staff or visiting people who use the service. We needed to be sure that someone would be in. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection, 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 looked at information we held about the service including notifications they had sent to us about important events.

We spoke with two people who used the service, two relatives, three care staff, the deputy manager and the registered manager. We requested feedback from three professionals, none responded to our request. During the inspection we reviewed three people’s care plans and three staff personnel files. We looked at records relating to the management of the service including policies, procedures and audits.

Updated 21 December 2018

This inspection took place on 14 November 2018 and was announced. This was the service’s first inspection since registering with the Care Quality Commission.

Nimble Care is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes in the Chippenham area. It provides a service to older adults and younger disabled adults. At the time of our inspection 16 people who received a regulated activity, were using the service.

Not everyone using Nimble Care receives a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

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 service was safe. Staff knew how to recognise the signs of abuse and what to do about it. Risks to people’s safety was assessed and actions put in place to minimise those risks. Medicines were managed safely.

Staff were recruited safely and were subject to an induction period which ensured they were confident, knowledgeable and competent to carry out their support duties.

Staff received mandatory training, both face to face and on-line. People were supported by staff who benefitted from regular one to one supervision and spot checks to ensure their practice was of a good standard.

Appropriate consents and legal representations were in place. Staff had training in and understood the Mental Capacity Act but needed to know how to fully apply its principles to their work.

People told us the staff were very caring and made them feel valued. Support for people was delivered in a way that promoted their independence. People were treated with respect and dignity.

The service was responsive to people’s changing needs. Support plans were reviewed and updated when any changes happened.

People had personalised support plans developed with people and their family or representative. People were supported to maintain their interests and activities.

The service worked closely with professionals from the local authority, health and social care to assess care needs and provide the appropriate care to meet people’s needs.

The registered manager was passionate about delivering a good quality service which was person centred and effective. The management team regularly assessed and monitored the quality of care being provided.

The service sought feedback from people, relatives and staff to gain a good understanding of potential improvements to make. There was a complaints procedure in place, however the service had not received any complaints since being in operation.