15 March 2016
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place on 15 March 2016 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of our intention to undertake the inspection. This was because the service provides domiciliary care to people in their own homes and we needed to make sure someone would be available at the office.
The service provides personal care to people living either in their own home or the home of a family member. At the time of the inspection, approximately 73 people used the service.
Since our last inspection the provider of this service had changed and a new manager had been appointed but had not started their employment. As there was an interim manager (who was covering the service) and the provider were present at the time of the inspection.
A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Care staff at this service are known as caregivers.
People told us they felt safe with the caregivers, who supported them in their own homes. Caregivers had a good understanding of how to safeguard people from different types of abuse and how to report any concerns.
People felt they were supported by enough caregivers to meet their individual needs.
People’s health and risks to their health were understood by caregivers. Caregivers understood what was required to care for people and what action to take if they became concerned over any changes in people’s health.
People were cared for by caregivers that had satisfactory pre- employment checks. To ensure they were safe to work at the service.
People where appropriate, were supported by caregivers to take their medicines. People’s medicines were checked regularly to ensure caregivers assisted people in accordance with how medicines were prescribed.
Caregiver’s were regularly supervised and their training needs identified, in order for them to keep their knowledge up-to-date. The provider was in the process of identifying and remedying any shortfalls in caregiver’s training.
Caregivers understood how to obtain people’s consent. The provider and interim manager acted within the requirements of the law and acted within the obligations placed upon them.
Caregivers told us, they enjoyed their work and understood the people’s preferences, they cared for.
People were treated with dignity and respect by caregivers.
People knew how to make a complaint. We saw the provider responded and recorded concerns for future learning.
The quality of care people received was regularly monitored to ensure people were happy with their care they received.