Background to this inspection
Updated
13 November 2018
The inspection:
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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team:
This inspection was conducted by one adult social care inspector on all days of the inspection.
Service and service type:
Bridge Care and Support is a domiciliary care service providing support and personal care to people in their own homes.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality commission. This means they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection:
We gave the service 24 hours notice of the inspection visit because it is a small service and we needed to make sure that someone would be available.
The inspection site visit started on 13 September and ended on 17 September 2018. It included visits to people’s homes and telephone calls to relatives. We visited the provider's office on 13 September 2018 to see the registered manager and to review care records and other records relevant to the quality monitoring of the service.
What we did:
Our planning took into account information the provider sent us since the last inspection. We also considered information about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse; and we looked at issues raised in complaints and how the service responded to them. We obtained information from the local authority commissioners and safeguarding team, Healthwatch and other professionals who work with the service. We assessed the 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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection, we spoke with three people using the service and three family members to ask about their experience of care. We also spoke with the registered manager and three members of staff.
We looked at five people’s care records and a selection and other records including quality monitoring records, recruitment and training records for four staff and records of checks carried out on the premises and equipment.
Details are in the Key Questions below.
Updated
13 November 2018
What life is like for people using this service:
Bridge Care and Support uses an electronic care system to record all details regarding the care and support required for people using the service. Staff are provided with a hand held device that provides access to all relevant information including call times, identified risks and individualised care and support needs. This ensures that people receive the right care and support in a safe way.
People told us they felt they received care in a safe way. Individual risks to people and the environment had been identified and assessed and measures put in place to manage them and minimise the risk of avoidable harm occurring. Staff showed a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities for keeping people safe from harm. Medicines were managed safely by trained staff who ensured that people received medicines at the right time.
Sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff were deployed to meet people’s individual needs. Staff had received a wide range training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely. People told us they received the right care and support from staff who were well trained and competent at what they did
Staff showed a genuine motivation to deliver care in a person centred way based on people’s preferences and likes. Staff treated people with kindness, compassion and respect and staff ensured that people’s dignity was maintained at all times. People spoke positively about the care and support they received.
People’s needs and choices were assessed and planned for. Care plans identified intended outcomes for people and how they were to be met in a way they preferred. People received support to maintain good nutrition and hydration and their healthcare needs were understood and met.
Records relating to consent for care were not always accurately completed, however people told us they were always offered choice and control over the care they received. We have made a recommendation regarding this.
Care was delivered in a personalised way which was in which was in line with information recorded in people's care plans. People and family members knew how to make a complaint and they were confident about complaining should they need to. They were confident that their complaint would be listened to and acted upon quickly.
The leadership of the service promoted person centred care and a positive culture within the staff team. People, family members and staff all described the registered manager as supportive and approachable. The registered manager showed a continued desire to improve on the service and displayed a good knowledge and understanding around the importance of working closely with other agencies and healthcare professionals where needed. Effective systems were in place to check on the quality and safety of the service and improvements were made when required.
Rating at last inspection: This service had previously been registered at a different address and therefore this was the first inspection under their new registered location.
About the service: Bridge Care and Support is a small domiciliary care service that provides support and personal care to older people in their owns. At the time of our inspection the service was supporting five people with personal care.
Why we inspected: This was a planned comprehensive inspection for a newly registered service.