We carried out a review of the data available to us about Helping Hands Poole on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Helping Hands Poole, you can give feedback on this service.
Helping Hands Poole is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. 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. At the time of our inspection the service was supporting 26 people in Dorset.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People, their relatives and staff told us Helping Hands Poole delivered a safe service. People’s risks were assessed, and measures put in place to help reduce them. Staff knew how to identify and raise concerns about safety, they were confident the service would take them seriously. This included environmental checks including emergency procedures and fire safety.
There were safe infection control procedures in place including enough supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). Staff compliance was checked and training in preventing the spread of infections was given to all staff. Specific risks associated with COVID-19 for people and staff had been assessed and processes put in place. Staff testing was in line with guidance and everyone knew their responsibilities to protect people. Medicines were managed safely by a live electronic system which alerted the service office if medicines were delayed, this was audited and monitored for added safety.
There were enough staff to meet the needs of the people using the service and recruitment was ongoing, with all necessary recruitment checks having been carried out. The registered manager told us recent changes to the recruitment procedures had improved efficiency and this had supported new staff joining the team. Staff had regular supervision and training and told us they felt well supported.
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. Consent was sought and people with the necessary legal rights and those important to the person had been involved in decisions that were important to them.
People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring. People were supported to be independent and be involved in their care. People had detailed care plans, which were person centred and regularly updated. The use of an electronic planning system meant that staff had the information they needed immediately.
Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor safety and to drive improvements. Systems were robust and checked all aspects of the service. The registered manager understood their responsibilities and people, their relatives and staff had confidence in them. Supported well by the provider, additional checks at their level ensured the service was operating safely. The service worked well with external professionals and continued to build on those links.
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 03/12/2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to provide this service with its first rating. This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about the service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.