Background to this inspection
Updated
16 January 2019
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 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 team ¿ Consisted of an adult social care inspector.
Service and service type ¿ This domiciliary service provides personal care to people living in their own homes and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection ¿ This comprehensive inspection visit took place on 18 December 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provided a domiciliary care service to people who lived in the community. We needed to be sure that we could access the office premises.
What we did preparing for and carrying out this inspection ¿ Before our inspection we completed our planning; tool and reviewed the information we held on the service. This included notifications we had received from the provider, about incidents that affect the health, safety and welfare of people supported by the service and previous inspection reports.
We also checked to see if any information concerning the care and welfare of people supported by the service had been received. We contacted the commissioning departments who used the service. This helped us to gain a balanced overview of what people experienced accessing the service.
As part of the inspection we used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is 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.
During the inspection visit we spoke with a range of people about SureCare and visited a home of a person who used the service. They included 6 people who used the service, the registered manager, the provider/owner of the franchise and the training and development officer. In addition we spoke with a care co-ordinator, six support staff and two relatives of people supported by SureCare.
We looked at records relating to the management of the service. We did this to ensure the management team had oversight of the service and they could respond to any concerns highlighted or lead the agency in ongoing improvements. We also looked at staffing levels and recruitment procedures for staff and focussed on how staff provided care within people’s homes.
Updated
16 January 2019
What life is like for people using this service:
People who used the agency and relatives told us they felt confident in the management team and how the service operated. They told us good staffing levels afforded people responsive and dignified support.
The management team had safe recruitment procedures to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable adults. We saw staffing levels matched each person’s requirements to maintain continuity of care. One person who used the service said, “A lovely agency I am very happy and feel safe with the staff who help me”
Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required.
Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.
Care plan information focused on a person-centred method of supporting people. Also, information contained what support was required and consent to care forms had been signed by people who received a service from SureCare.
People supported by the service told us they were treated with respect and by caring staff. For example, positive comments included, “A lovely agency I am very happy with the kind, caring people they send me.” Also, “Always courteous and respectful when they are in my home.”
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. We discussed the principles of the MCA and consent with staff and found they had a good awareness.
We found SureCare had systems in place to ensure they met people’s diverse and cultural needs. Those who used the service and relatives told us staff and the management team checked whether staff respected their customs and their way of life. Care records we looked at evidenced people and where appropriate relatives were fully included in their support planning.
People told us and staff confirmed to us there were enough staff on duty to ensure people received care in a timely way in their own homes. In addition, sufficient staff were deployed so that people had opportunity to go out in the local community if this was assessed in their care plan.”
The registered manager and management team used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included staff meetings, spot checks, auditing of the service and surveys to seek people’s views about the service provided.
The service worked in partnership with other organisations to ensure they followed good practice and people in their care were safe.
There was a complaints procedure which was made available to people and their family when they commenced using the service. People we spoke with told us they were happy with the support they received.
More information is in Detailed Findings below.
Rating at last inspection:
This was their first inspection.
About the service:
This service 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. At the time of the inspection 44 people used the service. The office is based in Blackpool and provides services to people who live in Blackpool, Fleetwood, Fylde & Wyre and surrounding areas. The service provides care and support varying from short visits to 24 hours a day support.
Why we inspected:
This was a planned first inspection of the service since their registration with CQC.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme or if any issues or concerns are identified.