Background to this inspection
Updated
2 November 2019
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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
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 does not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The nominated individual told us they planned to commence the process of registering with us. This means that they will then with the provider be 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 two working days’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 24 September 2019 when we visited the agency’s office and ended 26 September 2019, when we carried out telephone calls to people, people’s relatives and care staff.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service. This information included any statutory notifications that the provider had sent to the CQC. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. Other information we reviewed included the previous inspection report and quality monitoring report of the service completed by the host local authority.
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 discussed the PIR with the nominated individual during the inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the nominated individual, the care supervisor, the service’s accountant and one care worker. We reviewed a variety of records which related to people's individual care and the running of the service. These records included care files of five people using the service, four staff employment records, quality monitoring records and some policies.
After the inspection
We spoke with one person using the service (most people who used the service due to their needs were unable to speak with us about their experience of the care provided). We also spoke with five people’s relatives and three care staff. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training and risk assessment records.
Updated
2 November 2019
About the service
Senior Care Solutions @ Home Limited is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people in their own homes. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (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 inspection, seven people were receiving personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received a service which was personalised and met their individual needs and preferences.
People and relatives described staff as kind and caring. People had consistency in the staff who undertook their care calls. They told us that was important to them as staff got to know people and understood how they liked their care and support to be delivered.
The service did not have a registered manager. The nominated individual (responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider) managed the service with support from the care supervisor to ensure people received effective care in a timely manner.
Arrangements were in place to recruit suitable staff. However, records did not always show the action taken when the service encountered difficulties in obtaining references from previous employers of prospective staff. During and following the inspection, management staff were responsive in addressing this issue.
People received personalised care plans, which were reviewed regularly with the involvement of people using the service and their relatives.
Staff understood their responsibility to protect people in their care from abuse and report any concerns they had. They knew how to recognise and report any concerns they had about people's welfare.
The service assessed and managed risks to ensure that people received personal care and support safely.
Staff undertook training that supported them to have the knowledge and skills to do their job well and effectively meet people's needs. Supervision and monitoring of staff ensured people received good care.
People were supported to take their medicines safely and there were enough staff available to provide people with the care and support they needed.
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.
The provider had systems in place to manage and resolve complaints. People and their relatives had opportunities to provide feedback about the service. Action was taken to address issues they raised.
Infection risks were minimised by good hygiene practice.
Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality and delivery of care to people. Improvements to the service were made when needed.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 30 June 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.