Archived: Home from Home Care Services Ltd

We considered our inspection findings to answer questions we always ask;

Is the service safe?

Is the service effective?

Is the service caring?

Is the service responsive?

Is the service well-led?

This is a summary of what we found-

Is the service safe?

Systems were in place to make sure that managers and staff learnt from events such as accidents and incidents. This reduced the risks to people and helped the service to continually improve.

People told us that care workers normally arrived for their call on time. One person told us, 'They are more or less on time, within five minutes either way.' Another person said, 'They are always on time and stay for as long as possible.'

People told us that their medication was administered safely and on time. Care workers administering medication had received appropriate training.

Is the service effective?

People's care needs were assessed with them and they were involved in the writing of their plan of care. Staff told us that people's care plans were up to date and enabled them to deliver safe care.

People told us that care workers always completed all the necessary tasks at a call. One person said, 'I've had no problems with any of the carers they are all nice and they all do the job and if I need anything else doing they will do it.'

Is the service caring?

We spoke with six people who used the service. People told us that they were happy with the care they received. One person said, 'I'm very satisfied with my carers.' We saw a comment from a person who received care on a quality assurance document noted, 'They (care workers) arrive on time and always come in with a smile on their face.'

Is the service responsive?

People told us that they knew how to make a complaint. However, all the people we spoke with said they were happy with the care they received and had never had to raise concerns.

We saw the service had contacted other health and social care professionals when they had concerns over people's health and welfare.

Is the service well-led?

The service had a quality assurance system that helped them monitor the quality of care provided to people.

We saw that care records were reviewed to see if care was delivered in line with the care plan. The provider worked with other agencies to ensure people received their care in a joined up way.

People told us they were happy with the care they received. One relative told us, 'They [the carers] do everything for XXXX and take their time, XXXX feels XXXX gets spoilt.'

People told us care staff had enough time to provide care and always ensured all care was given. One person told us, 'They always make sure I am left clean and comfortable, they never leave before everything has been done.'

People told us the registered manager was responsive if they raised concerns. One person told us, 'If you have a problem you can always get hold of the office and it always gets sorted out.'

There were systems in place to ensure care staff recruited were suitable to work with vulnerable adults and received appropriate training.

Staff and management records were not always fully maintained and could not be located promptly when needed.