Background to this inspection
Updated
30 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
This 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 [heir 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.
Inspection activity started on 31 October 2019 and ended on 5th November 2019. We visited the office location on 31 October and 5 November 2019.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, a company director and two care staff. We also spoke with an independent consultant who supported the provider to manage and monitor the service.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two 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 provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with four professionals who regularly visit the service.
Updated
30 November 2019
About the service
Principles Recruitment Care Agency is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care in people's own homes. At the time of the inspection the service was providing care and support to 10 people.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their relatives spoke positively about the quality of care and support they received from Principles Recruitment Care Agency. They told us staff were kind and caring and they felt safe when staff provided support to them.
Staff understood their responsibility to protect people from abuse and harm. They told us they were confident any concerns they raised would be taken seriously by the registered manager.
Safe procedures were in place to make sure people received their medicines as prescribed and to manage people’s individual health risks.
There were enough staff available to ensure people's care and support needs were met. The registered manager worked alongside staff and delivered care. They told us they tried to accommodate people’s requests for additional care and visit times where possible. People told us staff arrived on time and stayed for the full amount of time and were informed if staff were running late.
Staff had been safely recruited and had received regular training and supervision to effectively meet people's needs. The timeliness of staff induction and the consistency of recording previous staff employment checks was being reviewed to ensure people were supported by trained and suitable staff. Staff supported people to have enough to eat and drink and assisted them to access healthcare services and professionals when they needed.
People were treated with respect by staff who showed them compassion and understanding. Relatives praised the staff and told us they also received emotional support from the managers and staff. Staff respected people's privacy and dignity and encouraged people to be as independent as possible.
People's care plan reflected their support requirements, preferences and levels of independence. Staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. 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 knew how to complain and were confident the registered manager would address their concerns. An independent consultant had been employed to assist the registered manager in monitoring the service through a range of quality checks and audits. They also gained feedback from people who used the service, their relatives and carried out spot checks on staff care practices. Actions were taken and improvements were made when needed.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
This service was registered with us on 21/06/2018 and this is the first inspection.
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.