Care Shield Services

Updated 11 October 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 home.

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 their registration. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used the information the provider sent us in the 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

We spoke with three people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and one medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We also received written feedback from three care workers.

Updated 11 October 2019

About the service

Care Shield Service is a domiciliary care service providing personal care and support to seven people living in their own homes. Some people who use the service have physical disabilities and some people have learning disabilities.

Everyone who used the service received personal care. 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

There were sufficient numbers of staff employed and people told us staff were always on time for their allocated visits and no visits had been missed.

Staff had received training in safeguarding matters and were confident in their knowledge and actions they would take if any safeguarding matters arose.

Medicines were managed safely. Staff were recruited safely.

People's care plans included individual risk assessments which staff followed to keep people safe.

People's needs were fully assessed prior to the commencement of their care package.

Staff had received appropriate training and had the necessary skills and experience to care for people safely.

Staff made sure people had access to healthcare professionals to support their health and well-being.

Staff supported people to access their local and surrounding community.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. 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 professionals told us the service was well run and were complimentary of the level of care and support the staff and registered manager provided.

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

Rating at last inspection (and update) This service was registered with the CQC on 25 June 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based upon the provider's registration date.

Follow up

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