Archived: Oblige Care Services

Updated 13 July 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 carried out by one inspector.

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

This inspection was announced. 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 would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service including registration assessments reports. The provider sent us their Provider information Return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

During the inspection we spoke with the provider and the care coordinator. We reviewed a range of records which included three people’s care records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate the evidence found. We looked at quality assurance records. We spoke with people and relatives who used the service and two staff members. We contacted two health care agencies who worked in partnership with Oblige Care Services.

Updated 13 July 2019

About the service

Oblige Care Services is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to adults, some living with the experience of dementia, and people with physical health needs.

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 the inspection three people were receiving support with personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People we spoke with were happy with the care they received. People told us the care workers were professional and they were happy with how the service was run.

The provider's recruitment procedures were designed to ensure staff were suitable for the role. Staff members were not permitted to work with people until the necessary recruitment checks had been undertaken and were satisfactory.

Staff had access to training that was appropriate to their role. Staff had attended safeguarding training and knew who to contact if they had any safeguarding concerns.

People's needs were assessed prior to receiving a service including the protected characteristics under the Equalities Act. Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Care plans were personalised and individualised. Care staff had the necessary guidance about the support each person required and how people preferred to be cared for. Individual risks to people and the environment had been identified and risk assessments were in place to help minimise the risk of harm occurring.

People and relatives told us people were treated with dignity and respect. They were positive about the staff and said they had a caring and kind attitude.

At the time of our inspection the provider had received no complaints. However, the provider had systems for handling complaints and responding to incidents and accidents which they said they would follow if these occurred.

The service was well led. Communication standards encouraged people and their relatives to share their views and the provider undertook a range of audits to check on the quality of care provided.

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 03 April 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We inspect newly registered services within one year of them starting to provide a regulated activity.

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.