Archived: G. I. Locum Limited Also known as G. I. Locum Limited

Updated 15 May 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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an expert by experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

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

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 13 April 2021 and ended on 14 April 2021. We visited the office location on 13 April 2021 and made telephone calls to people and relatives on 14 April 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service and we sought feedback from the local authority. The provider was not asked to send in a provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person who used the service and nine relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four care staff members, the registered manager and the nominated individual.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and 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.

Updated 15 May 2021

About the service

G.I. Locum Limited is a domiciliary care agency, providing personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of inspection, 25 people were using the service.

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.

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

Risks to people’s safety were not always assessed and details around the care they required were not always documented. Medication administration records were not always completed accurately. Internal quality audits had not always identify errors or taken appropriate action.

People received safe care and were protected against avoidable harm, abuse, neglect and discrimination. Safe recruitment practices ensured only suitable staff worked at the service and staff were employed in sufficient numbers to meet people’s needs.

Where the provider took on the responsibility, people were supported and encouraged to maintain good nutrition and hydration.

People told us they were treated with kindness, compassion and respect. People and relatives, we spoke with felt they had the time to develop good relationships with staff. Staff encouraged people to maintain their independence and do as much for themselves as they were able to.

Care plans reflected people’s individual needs and preferences, and were updated as required.

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.

The registered manager and provider understood their responsibilities and worked in an open and transparent way. People and their relatives knew how to make a complaint.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we inspected

This service was registered with us on 18 December 2019 and this is the first inspection.

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.