Homely Health Care Ltd

Updated 9 December 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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 15 November 2022 where we visited the person at their home and ended on 17 November 2022. We visited the location’s office on the 17 November 2022.

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 service improvement and safeguarding teams. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with and received feedback from the registered manager and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included one person's care records and one medication record. We looked at one staff file 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.

Updated 9 December 2022

About the service

Homely Health Care Ltd is a domiciliary care service providing the regulated activity of personal care to people who live in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there was one person receiving care and support from the service.

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

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. However, consent assessments were not always clear, we have made a recommendation about the completion of mental capacity assessments.

Recruitment procedures were in place and the necessary checks had been carried out to ensure staff were safe to work with people. However, the providers recruitment policy was not always followed, we have made a recommendation about the recruitment process. Staff received a robust induction and training in order to carry out their role confidently.

There were enough staff to meet the needs of people. The service was small and plans to expand safely were in place. There was a process in place to ensure the service learned from accidents, incidents and events that occurred.

Staff knew people well, people and their loved ones told us Homely Health Care Ltd was a safe service. Staff understood their responsibilities to identify and report safeguarding concerns both within the service and in the community.

There were safe procedures in place to prevent the spread of avoidable infections and staff had received training in infection control procedures. People received their medicines as prescribed. People had access to timely health and social care services and professionals.

Where people were supported to eat and drink, their likes and dislikes were recorded. People and their loved ones told us staff were kind and caring. Assessment of needs were carried out before people received support from the service and these formed the basis of care plans. Care plans were person centred, detailed and reviewed regularly.

There was a complaints procedure in place and the process was known. There was a system in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. The registered manager understood their legal and statutory responsibilities. Staff felt appreciated, supported and were proud to work at Homely Health Care Ltd. The service worked well with external agencies and professionals.

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 3 September 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.