Sagecare (Derby)

Updated 29 April 2020

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

Inspection team: This inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an expert by experience.

Service and service type

Sage Care Limited is a care service providing personal care and support to people in their own homes. This may include adults and older people living with dementia, a sensory impairment, a physical disability or mental ill health. Not everyone using the service received regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service received by people provided with ‘personal care;’ help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account the wider social care provided.

There was a registered manager for the service. Like the registered provider, the registered manager is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. At the time of this inspection the registered manager was absent with leave.

Notice of inspection

The inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours notice of the initial inspection site visit. This was because we needed to be sure either the registered manager or a senior manager would be in the in the office to support the inspection and care staff were available to speak with us. This also gave the provider time to obtain people’s consent, for us to speak with them or their relative about their care experience.

What we did

We looked at information we held about the service, to help us plan the inspection. This included checking written notifications the provider had sent to us about any important events when they happened at the service. On this occasion we did not ask the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) before the inspection. This is information we may ask the provider to send us, usually at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make. However, during the inspection we gave the manager opportunity to give us any relevant updates from this.

The inspection site visit activity started on 26 February and ended on 4 March 2020. We used a range of methods to help us understand people’s care experience. We visited the office location on 26 February and 4 March 2020 and made telephone calls to people, relatives and staff on 27 February 2020. During the course of the inspection we spoke with eight people who received care from the service and three people’s relatives. We also spoke with a deputy manager, a senior manager for the provider, a care supervisor, a care-co-ordinator and six care staff.

We looked at six people’s care plans to check whether they were accurately maintained and a range of other records relating to the management of the service. This included, staffing, medicines, communication and complaints records; and records relating to the provider’s governance and oversight of the service for the quality and safety of people’s care.

Following the inspection

We asked the registered manager to send us additional information to help us validate the evidence we found at the inspection. This related to areas of staff training, care policy, quality assurance and risk management.

Updated 29 April 2020

Sage Care Limited provides personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection there were 120 people using the service. 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. At this inspection there were 70 people receiving personal care from staff at the service.

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

The provider’s staffing, risk management, medicines and safeguarding arrangements, helped to ensure people’s safety when they received care. Recognised hygiene measures were followed for the prevention and control of infection. Health incidents and near misses were routinely monitored and analysed, to help inform or improve peoples’ care and prevent any further reoccurrence when needed.

There were effective arrangements for the assessment and delivery of peoples’ care in line with nationally recognised standards and the law. People were supported to maintain or improve their health and nutrition; through timely consultation and information sharing with relevant external health professionals and care providers, when needed for people’s care.

Staff were trained and supported for their role. People were supported to have maximum control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The provider’s related policies and systems supported this practice.

People received care from kind, caring staff who knew people well and how to communicate with them. Nationally recognised care values were established and promoted, to ensure their dignity, equality and rights in care. People were appropriately supported and involved to make decisions about their care.

Overall, people received timely, individualised care, which they were positive and happy about. Personal care arrangements to support people’s end of life care needs were effectively considered against nationally recognised care standards. This helped to ensure people’s dignity, comfort and choice in any event.

The provider was meeting the accessible information standard, to enable people to understand and agree their care in accordance with their assessed needs. Complaints were effectively informed, handled and used to influence care or service improvements needed.

The service was well managed and led; and regulatory requirements were being met. The registered manager and staff understood their role and responsibilities for people’s care. The provider operated effective governance arrangements for the quality and safety of people’s care; and to ensure their duty of candour and most recent inspection rating for public display. Effective arrangements were established for communication, record keeping and information handling at the service; along with relevant engagement and partnership working for people’s care and safety.

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 18/02/2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection. The service met with the characteristics of Good in all areas.

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.