TCS Homecare, Histon

Updated 1 September 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

Two inspectors and one expert by experience carried out this inspection. 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.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

We spoke with three people who used the service, five relatives, the registered manager and three members of staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We spoke with two professionals who have had contact with the service.

Updated 1 September 2021

About the service

TCS Homecare is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to 54 people living in their own homes at the time of their inspection.

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

People and their relatives told us that they felt safe when staff were providing care. Risk assessments had been completed to ensure that action was taken to keep people safe. People received their medication as prescribed. Staff were only employed after satisfactory checks about their suitability had been completed. There were systems in place to record, monitor and learn from accidents and incidents.

Staff had the knowledge, skills and support they required to meet people’s needs effectively. People’s physical, emotional and social needs were identified so staff could meet these. People were supported to maintain good health and were supported by or referred to the relevant healthcare professionals. People consented to their care or when appropriate best interest decisions were taken on their behalf.

Staff knew people’s needs in detail including, their likes and dislikes and what gave them comfort. One person told us that the care staff made their life worth living. Health and social care professionals were highly complementary about the support that people received and the excellent working relationships they had with the staff. The service demonstrated the achievements made to improve people's quality and experience of life. People’s privacy and dignity was protected and promoted.

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

This service was registered with us on 06/12/2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned 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.