Background to this inspection
Updated
11 May 2023
The inspection
We carried out this performance review and assessment under Section 46 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act). We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements of the regulations associated with the Act and looked at the quality of the service to provide a rating.
Unlike our standard approach to assessing performance, we did not physically visit the office of the location. This is a new approach we have introduced to reviewing and assessing performance of some care at home providers. Instead of visiting the office location we use technology such as electronic file sharing and video or phone calls to engage with people using the service and staff.
Inspection team
This inspection was completed 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.
Registered Manager
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 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 able to support with the inspection process.
Inspection activity started on 19 April 2023 and ended on 28 April 2023.
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. The provider was not asked to complete a 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 two person who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided to them/ their loved one. We spoke with four members of staff including care workers and the registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records. We looked at two 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.
Updated
11 May 2023
About the service
Gatekeepers Care Solutions is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people living in their own homes in the community. The service provides support to adults living with a physical disability or a sensory impairment including people who may be living with dementia.
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 there were 4 people receiving personal care at the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their relatives were positive about the support they received from the registered manager and the staff team. One person told us, ‘‘I have used care services in the past, but they have not been like this. It is so refreshing for me to have such good support from [staff] who genuinely care and want what is best for me.’’
People were safe using the service. Staff were trained in safeguarding and knew how to report any concerns relating to people’s support. Risks to people were assessed and mitigated as far as possible. There were enough staff to support people safely. The registered manager had processes in place to support people with their medicines. Staff were trained in infection control and knew how to use Personal Protective Equipment effectively.
People’s needs were assessed before they started using the service. Staff had training and competency checks to help ensure they had the skills needed to support people. People were supported to eat and drink if this support was necessary. Staff worked with health professionals to support people to lead healthy lives. 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 positive about their support and described staff as kind and compassionate. Staff knew people well as individuals. People were supported to make choices about their support. Staff supported people to be independent and supported them with privacy and dignity. People were supported in line with their preferences likes and dislikes. Staff supported people to engage in social past times that were of interest to them. There was a complaints procedure in place at the service and people felt comfortable raising any concerns.
The registered manager had instilled a positive culture at the service. The registered manager carried out audits to monitor the quality of the service and take action to make improvements if necessary. People and staff were encouraged to feedback about the service. The registered manager linked with other organisations to keep up to date with best practice. The registered manager was keen to continually improve the service. People and the staff team were positive about how the service was being managed.
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 22 June 2021, and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.