Archived: Care for Independence

Updated 30 March 2017

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.

We visited the service on 25 and 27 January 2017, this was an announced inspection. We gave 48 hours’ notice of the inspection as we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be available. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.

Prior to our inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included information received and statutory notifications about the provider. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

Local commissioners of the service, Healthwatch Derbyshire and health professionals involved with the service were contacted to obtain their views about the quality of the care provided by the service.

During our inspection we spoke with one person using the service, two relatives, two members of care staff and the registered manager. We looked at the care plans of three people who used the service and any associated daily records such as the daily log and medicine administration records (MAR). We looked at four staff files as well as a range of records relating to the running of the service such as quality audits and training records.

Updated 30 March 2017

This inspection took place on 25 and 27 January 2017. Care for Independence is a domiciliary care service which provides personal care and support to people in their own home.

At the time of our inspection Care for Independence offered support to eight people living in Derbyshire.

The service had a registered manager who was also the owner of 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 person we spoke with felt safe. Staff were aware of the safeguarding adult procedures to protect people from avoidable harm and had received appropriate training. The registered manager told us there had been no safeguarding events in the last 12 months. Risks to people’s health were known by staff but these were not reviewed regularly.

The registered manager told us there had been no accidents or incidents to people who used the service or staff within the previous 12 months. Any accidents that did occur would be formally recorded. People received their medicines as prescribed and these were managed correctly.

Safe recruitment practices were followed. Staff received an induction when they started. Staff supervision was not being carried out regularly. There were sufficient skilled and experienced staff available to meet people’s needs.

The registered manager was aware of the Mental Capacity Act (2005). She said no one using the service was subject to any restrictions placed on them by the Court of Protection.

People received sufficient to eat and drink and their nutritional needs had been assessed and planned for. People received appropriate choices and support with their meals. People’s healthcare needs had been assessed and were regularly monitored.

Staff were kind, caring and compassionate towards the people they supported. Staff supported people with person centred care and support. The provider asked people and their relatives to share their experience about the service provided. However this was not recorded.

People and relatives told us they were involved as fully as possible in their care and support. However, records had not been always been regularly reviewed. There was a complaints policy and procedure available. No formal complaints received within the previous 12 months.

People we spoke with told us they had not raised any complaints and were happy with the service. Information was available to inform people of independent advocacy services in the service user guide.

The registered manager had carried out quality assurance audits to review the quality and safety of the service, but had not always been recorded..

People were positive about the service provided. People who used the service told us they were treated with compassion and kindness and that their privacy and dignity were respected.

People who used the service including staff felt the leadership of the service was caring and effective. Staff were able to explain the values of the service.