We carried out a review of the data available to us about Helping Hands Warrington on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Helping Hands Warrington, you can give feedback on this service.
Helping Hands Warrington is a domiciliary care agency that provides support and personal care to younger and older adults in their own homes. At the time of our inspection 29 people received support from the service. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Assessment of risk, safety monitoring and management measures were in place. Care records contained relevant, up to date and consistent information in relation to people’s support needs and staff were familiar with the tailored level of care people needed. One person told us, “I’m very safe, because they [staff] always seem very confident in what they are doing. They are attentive.”
Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuse were in place. Staff knew how to escalate their concerns, people and relatives told us that safe care was provided, and people were protected. One person told us, “Yes, they [staff] do know me well and understand my needs.”
Safe medicine management processes were in place. Care records contained up to date medication risk assessment information, people received medication support in accordance with their administration instructions and staff received the required medication training.
People were protected from the risk of infection; safe and effective infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures were in place. Staff were engaged in routine COVID-19 testing, PPE was in ample supply and there was an up to date IPC policy in place.
Staffing levels were effectively managed and safe recruitment procedures were in place. We received feedback to suggest that staffing levels had recently improved, people received care from a consistent staff team and call times generally took place at the times that had been agreed as part of the persons care package.
Effective quality assurance and governance measures had been maintained. We were assured that quality performance and risk management measures were used to assess the quality and safety of care people received.
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 31 May 2019).
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services which have had a recent Direct Monitoring Approach (DMA) assessment where no further action was needed to seek assurance about this decision and to identify learning about the DMA process.
The focused inspection reviewed the key questions of safe, and well-led only. We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
The overall rating for the service remains ‘good’. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Helping Hands Warrington on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
Helping Hands Warrington is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses in the community. Not everyone using the service receives a 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 the inspection, it was providing a service to 44 people.
People's experience of using this service and what we found:
Consideration into people's mental capacity was dealt with appropriately and the service acted consistent with legislation.
Staff were recruited safely.
The provider had arrangements to check and audit systems.
People were protected against avoidable harm, abuse, neglect and discrimination. The care they received was safe.
People's likes, preferences and dislikes were assessed and care packages met people's desired expectations.
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.
People's care was person-centred. Care was designed to ensure people's independence was encouraged and maintained.
People and their relatives were involved in the care planning and review of their care.
The service had a stable management structure. The registered manager and provider had implemented systems to ensure they continuously measured the safety of people's care and quality of the service.
People had a say in how the service was operated and managed through meetings, surveys and reviews.
Rating at last inspection: The service has not been inspected previously.
Why we inspected: This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, high quality care and re-inspect based on the overall rating. We may inspect sooner if we receive information of concern.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk