Archived: Heart Homecare Ltd

Updated 25 August 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.

The inspection took place on 13 July 2018 and was announced. The provider who is also the registered manager was given 3 days’ notice of the inspection as we needed to be sure that the office was open and the provider would be available to speak with us, as they at times worked ‘hands on’ and covered calls to people in the community. The inspection was carried out by one inspector who visited the agency’s office and an expert by experience who made telephone calls to people who used the service. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete 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 also looked at information we held about the agency, such as, notifications. Notifications are changes, events or incidents which the provider is required to tell us by law. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

We spoke with the provider, a care co-ordinator, an administrator, three members of staff who provided care to people living in the community. We telephoned and spoke with one person who used the service and six relatives of people that used the service.

We looked at records held by the provider. This included four care plans, daily notes; a range of the providers policies including safeguarding, medicines and the complaints policy; the recruitment and training records of three staff employed at the service; the staff training programme and policies and procedures.

This was the first inspection of Heart Homecare, since it was registered at the new office location on 25 July 2017.

Updated 25 August 2018

The inspection took place on 13 July 2018. The inspection was announced.

Heart Homecare is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care for people who require support in their own home. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’ and help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection, the service was supporting 17 elderly people.

The provider was also the registered manager at the service. 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 Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The provider understood their responsibilities under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People’s capacity to consent to care and support had been assessed and recorded within their care plans.

The provider had suitable processes in place to safeguard people from different forms of abuse. They knew what their responsibilities were in relation to keeping people safe from the risk of abuse. The provider and staff recognised the signs of abuse and what to look out for. There were systems in place to support staff and people to stay safe.

The provider involved people in planning their care by assessing their needs on their first visit to the person, and then by asking people if they were happy with the care they received. There was a strong emphasis on person centred care. People were supported to plan their support and they received a service that was based on their personal needs and wishes. The service was flexible and responded positively to changes in people’s needs. Some people were supported by their family members to discuss their care needs, if this was their choice to do so. People told us they could express their opinions and views and were encouraged and supported to have their voices heard.

Risks associated with people's care and support were managed safely.

People were supported with meal planning, preparation, eating and drinking as necessary. Staff supported people, by contacting the office to alert the provider to any identified health needs so that their doctor or nurse could be informed.

Staff provided caring and considerate support and respected people’s privacy and dignity.

Suitable arrangements were in place in relation to the safe administration and recording of medicines. Management systems were in use to minimise the risks from the spread of infection. Staff received training about controlling infection and had access to personal protective equipment like disposable gloves and aprons.

People said that they knew they could contact the provider at any time, and they felt confident about raising any concerns or other issues.

At this time, the service did not provide care and support to people who were at the end stages of life.

The provider had followed effective recruitment procedures to check that potential staff employed were of good character and had the skills and experience needed to carry out their roles.

The provider deployed sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and provide a flexible service.

Staff had received training to enable them to carry out the duties they were employed to perform. All staff received induction training at the start of their employment. Refresher training was provided at regular intervals.

Staff received regular supervision and an annual appraisal so they were supported to carry out their roles.

The provider had processes in place to monitor the delivery of the service. As well as talking to the provider at spot checks, people could phone the office at any time, or speak to the person on duty for out of hours calls. People’s views were obtained through meetings with the person and meetings with families of people who used the service. The provider checked how well people felt the service was meeting their needs.

People felt that the service was well led. The provider demonstrated strong values and a desire to learn about and implement best practice throughout the range of services provided. There were systems and processes to enable lessons to be learned and improvements made if things went wrong. Staff were motivated and proud of the service. The provider had developed effective links with organisations that helped them develop best practice in the service. The provider used effective systems to continually monitor the quality of the service.