Background to this inspection
Updated
19 May 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
This inspection was completed 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.
Registered Manager
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC 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 it is a small service and we needed to be sure the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. We visited the location’s office on 27 April 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manger. We reviewed three care plans, medication records and three staff files. We spoke with two people receiving a service and six people’s relatives. We reviewed records associated with the management of the service, which included policies, procedures, audits, and checks. We looked at staff recruitment details, training, supervisions, appraisals and checks to determine staff were competent in their roles.
After the inspection
We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We spoke with three care staff.
Updated
19 May 2022
About the service
Happy 2 Help Community Care Ltd is a domiciliary agency providing regulated activities for older people, people with dementia, people who misuse drugs and alcohol, people with a physical disability and people with mental health needs. At the time of the inspection, regulated activity was provided to 11 people.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (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
The registered manager completed pre-assessments with people to ensure the service was able to meet their individual needs. Staff had access to information including risk assessments, which helped them to provide people with safe care.
Spot checks and observations were carried out to ensure staff supported people to take medicines safely as prescribed. Associated records were maintained by staff with management checks completed to ensure they were accurate.
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. People confirmed they were actively involved in their care and any reviews to ensure their needs continued to be met with consideration of any personal preferences.
All staff completed an induction to their role and the service. The induction included supervisions, which were used to support staff with the right skills and knowledge to care for people. Ongoing refresher training was completed and face to face practical training was being re-introduced. For example, to ensure staff remained competent with the latest techniques to safely support people to mobilise.
People received support from a consistent team of staff who understood how to care for them. Staff knew the people they supported and promoted their dignity. Staff asked for the help and advice of health and social care professionals when required.
The registered manager made sure people received information in accessible formats which they could understand. Where people required equipment to manage their hearing and sight, information was recorded, and staff knew to check this was in place, which helped with communication.
People and their relatives spoke positively about the service they received. They told us the registered manager was always approachable and staff were friendly and supportive, helping them to remain living as independently as possible in their own homes.
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 the service, under the previous provider at the previous premises, was requires improvement (published 14 June 2019) and there were breaches of regulation. 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 and the provider was not in breach of regulations.
At our last inspection we recommended the provider review information associated with the Accessible Information Standard. The standard was introduced to make sure people are given information in a way they can understand. At this inspection, we found the provider had acted on the recommendation and improvements had been made.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.