Background to this inspection
Updated
23 July 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 undertaken by two inspectors and an expert by experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of 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 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 carried out the inspection visit on 14 June 2022. It was announced. We told the provider before our visit we would be coming. We did this because the registered manager is sometimes out of the office supporting staff or visiting people who use the service. We needed to be sure they would be available at their office.
Inspection activity started on 14 June 2022 and ended on 27 June 2022. We visited the location’s office on 14 June 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 (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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service, 13 relatives and viewed surveys about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager and quality and assurance manager. We reviewed a range of records, including 14 people's care records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff support and a range of records relating to how the service operated and was managed.
Updated
23 July 2022
Blossom Healthcare Solutions is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection 34 people were receiving using the service.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider had started providing care for people with complex conditions. We were not assured the tasks being provided were within the providers scope of registration and all risks related to this fully explored and mitigated. Whilst some training had been provided to staff delivering these tasks, the records kept in relation to this were not always comprehensive or up to date.
People and their relatives told us they felt safe and were protected from the risk of abuse. Risk assessments had been carried out to identify and minimise any risks involved in people's care. People's medicines were managed safely. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people's needs.
Care plans were reviewed and updated as people's needs changed. People were supported by staff who knew them well and were able to identify people's likes and dislikes. 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.
Staff monitored people's health effectively and responded promptly if people became unwell. Staff worked well with other professionals involved in people's care to ensure they received the support they needed.
People told us they were treated with dignity and respect and were positive about the support they received.
A complaints procedure was in place and people told us they felt able to raise concerns when they needed to.
The provider monitored the quality of the service and had an action plan to address any areas identified for improvement.
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 09 April 2020 and this is the first inspection.
The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 13 November 2019.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
We have found evidence the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the effective and well led sections of this full report.
You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.
Enforcement
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 staff training and governance at this inspection.
Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.