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Citibase Slough

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

23 Cowley Crescent, Uxbridge, UB8 2HE 07899 295548

Provided and run by:
Red Brick Care Ltd

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 26 October 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 conducted 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

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 we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 26 September 2022 and ended on 27 September 2022. We visited the location’s office on 27 September 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We looked at all the information we held about the provider, including notifications of significant events. 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person who used the service and the relatives of two other people. We met the registered manager. We looked at a range of records used by the provider for managing the service. These included the care and medicines records for four people, records for four members of staff, audits, checks and quality monitoring information and meeting minutes.

Overall inspection

Requires improvement

Updated 26 October 2022

About the service

Citibase Slough is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to people living 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 wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection, nine people were receiving support with personal care.

The agency was the only location for Redbrick Care Limited, a private company.

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

Whilst the provider had assessed and planned for some risks relating to the health and care of people using the service, they had not assessed other risks. Where people had a healthcare condition, there was not always enough detail about this to ensure staff knew how to identify and reduce risks relating to these.

The provider had not always ensured risks were mitigated because they did not have detailed records in place regarding all aspects of managing the service.

People using the service and their relatives were happy with the care and support they received. They liked the staff who supported them and felt their needs were met. They were able to make decisions about their care.

The staff were well supported and had the training and information they needed to care for people safely.

The provider had made improvements throughout the service. These included better quality monitoring, improved record keeping and developing best practice. There were appropriate systems for dealing with and learning from complaints, incidents, accidents and safeguarding alerts.

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 and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 28 August 2021).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made. However, the provider remained in breach of some regulations where further improvements were still needed.

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider improve staff training and support, improve staff understanding of privacy, dignity and duty of candour and follow government guidance around preventing COVID-19 infections. At this inspection we found the provider had made improvements in all these areas.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.