Background to this inspection
Updated
8 January 2022
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 team consisted of one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses 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
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.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the service registered with us. This included gathering feedback from the local authority.
The provider was not 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.
What we did during the inspection
We spoke with two people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included people’s care records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service, including procedures and governance records.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
8 January 2022
About the service
Angel's & Saint's Homecare Services Limited provide personal care to people living in their own homes. There were 12 people using the service at the time of our inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The systems in place to monitor the service and the care people received were not always sufficient. When audits had been completed it was not clear if the actions identified had been completed. However, the registered manager offered us assurances that they had.
Although people, relatives and staff were able to offer us assurance, there were no records of staff meetings taking place, medicines always being monitored effectively, care plan and care needs being reviewed or that infection prevention and control procedures were in place. While people and relatives felt involved with care planning initially, they did not always feel involved with the review of care, and records supported this.
Staff felt supported and listened to by the registered manager. People and relatives spoke positively about the service.
There were safeguarding procedures in place to identify when people may be at risk of harm. Individual risks to people were considered and reviewed.
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 support this practice. People had access to health professionals when needed. People had their dietary requirements assessed.
People were treated in a kind and caring way and they were happy with the support they received from the staff. People’s privacy and dignity was considered and maintained. They were encouraged to make choices and remain independent.
People’s preferences including their likes and dislikes, were considered, and they received support based on these needs. Peoples’ communication was considered. There was a complaint policy in the home.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 10/03/2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned fully comprehensive inspection.
We have identified breaches in relation to the systems that are in place to monitor the care people receive at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
Enforcement
We have identified breaches in relation to the systems that are in place to monitor the care people receive at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
Follow up
We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.