Homecare Unique Limited

Updated 7 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 the 19, 29 and 30 October 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because we wanted to be sure that the registered manager and staff were available. The inspection team consisted of one inspector. On the 19 October 2018 we visited the registered office. On the 29 October 2018 we visited people in their own homes and the registered office. On the 30 October 2018 we made phone calls to people using the agency.

Before the inspection, we asked the registered manager to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the agency, what the agency does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at notifications about important events that had taken place, which the provider is required to tell us by law and the previous inspection report. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

We gained the views of six people and two relatives. We visited two people in their own homes and we telephoned four people to get their views about the agency. All feedback was positive about the quality of care and support that people received. We spoke with three staff, which included two care staff and the registered manager.

We looked at the provider’s records. These included three people’s care records, which included care plans, risk assessments, daily care records and medicines records. We looked at documentation that related to staff management and recruitment including three staff files. We also looked at a sample of audits, the electronic recording system, minutes of meetings and policies and procedures.

Updated 7 December 2018

Homecare Unique Limited is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to older adults that maybe living with dementia, younger adults, people with a physical disability and people that have a learning disability. Not everyone using Homecare Unique Limited receives 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. At the time of this inspection the agency provided personal care to 17 people.

At our last inspection on 23 November 2016 we rated the service good. At this inspection on 19, 29 and 30 October 2018 2018 we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

There was a registered manager in place who was also the registered provider. 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.

People received a service that was safe. People felt safe with the staff. Staff understood the importance of keeping people safe and followed the guidance that was in place. There were enough staff to meet people's assessed needs and staff were recruited safely.

Potential risks posed to people and others had been assessed and mitigated. Accidents and incidents involving people were investigated to ensure the appropriate care and support was being given. Referrals were made to health care professionals when people's needs changed.

People were supported to maintain their nutrition and hydration and remain in good health.

Medicines for people were managed safely and administered by staff that were trained. Systems were in place to support people safely and effectively with their medicines.

Staff received the training, support and guidance needed to fulfil their role and meet people's needs. Staff worked alongside external health care professionals to support people that had specialist needs.

New staff completed an induction before starting work for the agency.

People's needs had been assessed prior to receiving a service from the agency. People received a personalised service that placed them at the centre of their care and support needs. Care records were regularly reviewed to ensure they continued to meet people's needs. People's rights were promoted and protected.

People were encouraged to make their own choices about their lives. 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 were kind and caring towards people. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity. Staff knew people well and had knowledge about people’s histories, likes and dislikes. People’s equality, diversity and human rights were promoted and respected.

People were supported to express their views and were involved in the development of the service they received. Complaints were investigated and responded to in line with the providers policy.

Systems were in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service that people received.

It is a legal requirement that a provider’s latest CQC inspection report rating is displayed at the registered office where a rating has been given. This is so that people, visitors and those seeking information about the service can be informed of our judgements. We found the provider had conspicuously displayed their rating with the registered office and on their website.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.