Carepoint Services Ltd (Croydon)

Updated 3 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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

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, flats and specialist housing.

The service had a manager registered with the CQC. 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:

This inspection was announced. We gave the provider 24 hours’ notice to enable them to ensure they could accommodate an inspection as safely as possible. Inspection activity started on 17 August 2021 and ended on 24 August 2021.

What we did before the inspection:

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We reviewed statutory notifications submitted by the provider. Statutory notifications contain information providers are required to send to us about significant events that take place within services. 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 the registered manager and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records including six people’s care records, medicines administration records, five staff records and other records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection:

We spoke with three people, two relatives and a health care professional about their experiences of the service. We also spoke with two care support workers. We continued to speak with the registered manager and nominated individual and sought clarification about the evidence gathered. We also reviewed additional documentation relating to the management of the service.

Updated 3 September 2021

About the service

Carepoint Services Ltd (Croydon)) is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care to people living in their own houses, flats and specialist housing in the community. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’, that is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do this, we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection there were 77 people using the service.

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

People were safe. Staff had been trained to safeguard people from abuse. They understood what the risks were to people’s safety and wellbeing and what they should do to keep people safe. There were enough staff at the time of this inspection to support people using the service and meet their needs.

Recruitment and criminal records checks had been undertaken on new staff to make sure they were suitable to support people. They could only work alone with people once the provider was satisfied they were competent. All staff received relevant training to help them meet people’s needs. Staff were well supported by senior staff and had regular supervision through which they were encouraged to learn, develop and improve in their role.

Staff followed current practice to reduce infection and hygiene risks within people’s homes. They helped people keep their homes clean and hygienic.

People were involved in planning their care and support and could state their preferences for how this was provided. People’s records reflected their needs and preferences. People were supported to be as independent as they could be with daily living tasks.

Staff were kind and caring and respected people’s rights to privacy, dignity and independence. They knew people well and understood how their identified needs should be met. People were encouraged to talk about the activities and interests that were important to them and supported to maintain relationships with the people important to them.

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 were supported to take their prescribed medicines and staff made sure people could access support from healthcare professionals when needed. Staff encouraged people to eat and drink enough to meet their needs.

People had positive experiences of using the service and were satisfied with the care, support and communication received from them. Senior staff obtained their feedback at regular intervals about how the service could continue to improve.

Senior staff were open and transparent. They made sure accidents, incidents and complaints were investigated and people kept involved and informed of the outcome. They undertook audits and checks at regular intervals, to monitor, review and improve the quality and safety of the service and addressed any issues found through these checks.

Senior staff worked well with other agencies and healthcare professionals involved in people’s care and acted on their recommendations to deliver care and support that met people’s needs.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 24/02/2020 and this was the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection took place in part based on the length of time since the service registered with the CQC. We had also received some concerns about the safety of the support provided to people and management and leadership at the service. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks during the inspection.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

We also looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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.