Choices Care

Updated 21 November 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.

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

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 29 October 2019 and ended on 5 November 2019. We visited the office location on 1 November 2019.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff, the branch manager, the director and registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 21 November 2019

About the service

Choices Care Ltd provides personal and domestic care and support in people’s own homes. At the time of the inspection 12 people were using the service.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection 9 people were receiving a regulated activity.

People received safe and effective support from staff who received appropriate training. The provider had safe recruitment process and staff received training in how to recognise and report abuse.

People confirmed they received good support and care in areas such as health needs, medicines management and meals.

Staff supported people to take their medicines safely where required. Staff understood the importance of promoting people’s choice and independence. People were involved with decisions about their care and support.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People and relatives were happy with the care provided by staff. People told us staff were kind, caring and compassionate. People’s care was reviewed and updated when required. People had the opportunity to express their views and had developed caring relationships with staff. People’s communication needs were met.

The management team completed regular checks and monitoring of the service. People’s risks to their health and welfare were re-assessed when their needs had changed, care plans were reviewed and revised appropriately to ensure improvements were sustained.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 27 July 2016).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.