Background to this inspection
Updated
15 October 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
The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience undertook telephone interviews with people and relatives. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
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 24 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 their registration. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service and eight relatives of other people about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the nominated individual, registered manager and care coordinator. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medicines records. We looked at five 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.
After the inspection
We received feedback by email from six care workers and two external professionals who were involved with the service. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
15 October 2021
About the service
Carepoint Services Ltd (Ickenham) is a domiciliary care agency providing a range of services including personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection, there were 16 people using the service, most of whom were funding their own care.
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
People's care and risk management plans set out the care tasks they required help with and these contained information about people and their preferences for how they liked to be supported.
People told us they felt safe. Where there were risks to people’s safety and wellbeing, these had been assessed and the provider had done all that was reasonably practicable to lessen those risks. However, some risk assessments lacked clarity about the risks identified. This was addressed before the end of the inspection.
There were systems for the management of incidents and accidents. However, there had not been any significant concerns. The provider was transparent and there was clear communication within the team, so they learnt from mistakes and made improvements when things went wrong.
There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and recognise when improvements were required.
We received positive feedback from people and their relatives about using the service. They told us the staff were kind, caring and respectful and met their needs in line with their wishes.
There were enough staff deployed to support people and people told us the staff usually arrived on time. Recruitment checks were carried out to ensure staff were suitable to support people. Staff received induction, training and supervision and felt supported in their roles.
The provider sought feedback from people, relatives and staff and used this to develop the service. People and staff were confident they could raise any concerns they had with the registered manager and felt they would be listened to.
The registered manager and senior staff were responsive to and worked in partnership with other agencies to meet people’s needs.
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 the last inspection
This service was registered with us on 15/7/2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
We planned this inspection based on the length of time since the service was registered.
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.