Background to this inspection
Updated
24 April 2021
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
Inspection activity started on 24 March 2021 and ended on 26 March 2021. We visited the office location on 25 March 2021.
What we did before the inspection
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 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
We spoke with seven people who used the service and ten relatives about their experience of the care provided.
During the inspection
We spoke with six members of staff including the regional manager, the registered manager, and four care staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included ten people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three 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 contacted three professionals who regularly visit the service.
Updated
24 April 2021
About the service
Premier Care is a domiciliary care agency providing help and support to people with varying needs in their own homes. 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 social care provided. At the time of our inspection the service was supporting 197 people, 148 of whom were receiving help with personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
At the previous inspection there were concerns around inconsistent and brief documentation. This had improved and documentation was now much more comprehensive. At the last inspection there were some inconsistencies in medicines records. At this inspection all medicines records looked at were complete and up to date.
We found systems for assessing quality were not always effective at the last inspection. These systems had been reviewed and improvements made had ensured they were now effective.
Appropriate safeguarding systems were in place and staff were knowledgeable about how to keep people safe. Staff were recruited safely and no missed visits were reported by people who used the service. Infection prevention and control was managed well.
Care plans were person-centred and included information about health, social background, preferences and goals. People reported good communication with 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.
Learning was taken from looking at themes and trends from complaints and concerns, accidents and safeguarding issues. The service engaged well with partner agencies and other professionals.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 28 April 2020). At this inspection we found the required improvements had been made.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating to look at whether the service had completed the actions required.
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.