Background to this inspection
Updated
2 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
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, flats and specialist housing.
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 sought feedback from professionals who work with the service. 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 also contacted a social worker for feedback.
During the inspection
We spoke with five members of staff including the business manager, head of compliance and audit, internal audit manager, national development manager and one care worker.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medicine 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 provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke to three relatives and three care workers.
Updated
2 November 2019
About the service
Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd – Community Care London is a domiciliary care agency providing personal support to eight people at the time of the inspection.
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 were supported by staff who knew how to identify the risk of abuse and how to report it.
Risks peopled face were minimised as the service completed assessments to protect people in their home and while in the community.
Staff were recruited safely to the service and there were enough staff to support people.
The risk of infection was minimised as staff were provided with personal protective equipment.
The service recorded accidents and incidents and staff said they had meetings to share best practice and learning experiences when things had gone wrong.
Relatives told us staff were knowledgeable and looked after their family member well.
Staff received regular training and support and specialist training where they worked with people with additional health needs.
Relatives told us staff were kind and compassionate and respected their family member’s privacy and dignity and maintained confidentiality.
People’s care plans were personalised and relatives told us they were involved in the preparation of the care plan.
Relatives were happy with the management of the service and the quality of communication they received from the service.
The service had effective quality assurance systems to monitor the service.
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.
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 19 September 2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.
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.