Background to this inspection
Updated
12 January 2023
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
This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors on the first office visit, and 1 inspector on the second office visit.
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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service short 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.
Inspection activity started on 14 November 2022 and ended on 25 November 2022. We visited the location’s office on 14 November 2022 and 22 November 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. 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 1 person who used the service and 2 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 4 members of care staff including the provider/registered manager and a consultant who was supporting the provider. We reviewed a range of records, this included 3 people's care records and medication records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and action plans.
Updated
12 January 2023
About the service
Miss Leanne Porter is a home care service providing personal care to adults with a range of support needs in their own homes. At the time of the inspection there were 9 people 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
People’s risks were identified, monitored and managed, however they were not always clearly assessed or recorded. People’s medicines were not always safely managed, there were some gaps in information and record keeping.
The systems in place to monitor the quality of the service were not always effective. Although staff were aware of people’s needs and how to manage their risks, these were not always clearly recorded and the current systems in place had not identified this. Improvements were required to identify when guidance for staff was not always documented or when staff did not record when tasks were completed.
People were protected from the risk of harm or abuse. People were supported by staff who were recruited safely. The provider had effective control systems in place to help ensure people were protected from the risk of infection. Lessons were learnt when things went wrong.
People’s care needs were assessed and used with their choices to form their care plan. Staff received a full induction and training and were supported to effectively meet people’s needs. People were supported to eat and drink and maintain a healthy diet. The provider worked in partnership with other health and social care professionals to ensure people received consistent and effective care.
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 well treated and supported with their equality and diversity respected. People were supported to share their views and be involved in decisions about their care. People’s privacy, dignity and independence was respected and promoted.
People received personalised care which met their needs and preferences. The registered manager was aware of the Accessible Information Standard. People were supported to maintain relationships and follow their interests. People and their relatives we spoke with confirmed they did not have any complaints. People received end of life care and support where required.
People, their relatives and staff were engaged and involved in the service. The registered manager and staff shared a positive culture which was person-centred and open and honest. The registered manager took action to update people’s care plans to include required risk assessments and guidance for staff. They were also in the process of updating people’s medicine administration charts to include specific information for staff.
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 10 October 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Enforcement and Recommendations
We have identified a breach in relation to good governance at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
Follow up
We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.