We carried out a review of the data available to us about Farrell Healthcare Head Office on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Farrell Healthcare Head Office, you can give feedback on this service.
Farrell Healthcare Head Office provides domiciliary services to 35 people who require support in their own home at the time of our inspection. The service supports a wide range of people in the community and operates seven days a week, with out of hours contacts. Farrell Healthcare Head Office will be referred to as Farrell Healthcare within this report.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and relatives commented they felt safe whilst using Farrell Healthcare. A relative said, “It's a stress-free service for me as a relative.” Staff demonstrated a good awareness of reporting concerns and whistleblowing to protect people from poor care, abuse or harm.
The registered manager had systems to monitor, assess and reduce risks related to supporting people in their own homes. Staff demonstrated a good awareness of their duties to prompt people to take their medication. This helped them to protect people from unsafe medicines procedures.
Staff told us staffing levels were sufficient to give them time to complete visits in a calm and unhurried way. A staff member stated, “There's enough of us to make sure everything is covered.” The management team had a variety of systems to ensure their workforce was well trained.
The management team assessed, monitored and reviewed people’s care plans to ensure they continued to meet their needs. Part of this process included timely referral to other agencies to help people maintain a healthy lifestyle. The management team guided staff to meet people’s needs where nutritional support formed part of their care package.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People confirmed staff consistently sought their permission before assisting them.
People and their relatives said staff had a caring, respectful attitude and they were at the heart of their care plans. A relative told us, “They are excellent carers who have enhanced our lives.” The management team assessed people’s needs with them to develop personalised care packages.
The managers fostered an inclusive ethos by involving everyone in service improvement. A relative told us, “I am impressed with them and my overwhelming gratitude for the support they have given us.” The management team completed various audits to assess safety and quality assurance.
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 good (published 28 February 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.
This was the first inspection of the service since its re- registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This was because the service had moved premises. The service has not previously been inspected.
Farrell Healthcare Head Office provides a domiciliary care service for clients who require support in their own homes in the community. The service provides support in the home for older people and operates from offices based on Wood Street in Lytham St. Annes. At the time of our inspection visit Farrell Healthcare Head Office provided services to 26 people.
There was a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Six people supported by the service told us staff who visited them were polite, reliable and friendly. They told us they received patient and safe care and they liked the staff who supported them. Comments received included, “I cannot fault the girls who visit me. They are very reliable.” And, “I am happy with the service I receive. They have never let me down.”
We found recruitment procedures were safe with appropriate checks undertaken before new staff members commenced their employment. Five staff spoken with told us their recruitment had been thorough and professional.
Newly appointed staff received induction training completed at the services office base. This was followed by shadowing experienced colleagues until they felt safe to support people unsupervised.
Staff received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and social needs.
We looked at how the service was staffed. Five staff members spoken with said they were happy with how their visits were managed. Six people supported by the service told us staff were reliable and they had never experienced a missed visit.
The five staff members we spoke with told us they received regular supervision from the registered manager and felt supported. They told us their work was appraised by the registered manager and they received feedback about their performance and client satisfaction.
The service had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices.
The registered manager understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This meant they were working within the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions.
Risk assessments had been developed to minimise potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.
Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required. People told us they received their medicines at the times they needed them.
Staff supported people to have a nutritious dietary and fluid intake. Assistance was provided in preparation of food and drinks as people needed.
People who used the service and their relatives knew how to raise a concern or to make a complaint. The six people we spoke with told us they were happy with the service they received.
The service used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included spot checks and care reviews. Six people we spoke with told us they were satisfied with the service they received.
The registered manager and staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and were committed to providing a good standard of care and support to people in their care.