Background to this inspection
Updated
3 February 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.’
This inspection took place on 5 December 2016.The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service for a small number of people; we needed to be sure that someone would be available. Before the inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service and notifications we had received. Notifications are forms completed by the organisation about certain events which affect people in their care.
We also received a provider information return (PIR) in July 2016 and used this information to inform out inspection plans.
The inspection was completed by one inspector who spent time talking to the registered manager, support worker, one person who used the service and one relative. We also looked at one care plan and daily records. We checked two staff recruitment and training files and looked at audits to show how the service reviewed the records and quality of care and support it provided to people.
Updated
3 February 2017
This inspection was announced as the domiciliary agency is small and we wanted to ensure the staff would be available to talk with and review records. The inspection took place on 5 December 2016. Kenwith Castle Gardens Domiciliary Agency is registered to provide personal care to people in their own homes. The registered office is situated on the site of Kenwith Castle nursing home. The service provides personal care to people living in their own homes or those who have tenancies of accommodation in the grounds of Kenwith Castle. It does not support people outside this catchment area. Currently the service provides personal care to one person.
The registered manager is also the registered manager of kenwith Castle nursing home, which is situated on the same site. 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.
The service was well run by the registered manager and two staff who provided the support to people in their own homes. Care and support was well planned, with the consent of people who used the service. People were actively involved in the development and review of their care plan. Plans were person centred and described how to support people in ways they wished and ensuring they maintained their independence.
Care and support was delivered by staff who understood the needs of people, their wishes and preferred routines. Staff had training and support to do their job effectively. This included regular opportunities to talk about their role and any training needs they had.
People were cared for in a way which protected their dignity, privacy and respect. One person said ‘‘The staff are very kind and helpful.’’
People were kept safe because staff had a good understanding about types of abuse and who they should report any concerns to. Safe recruitment practices meant staff were only employed if they had the right checks in place to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable people.
Systems were in place to ensure people’s medicines were handled safely and any support needed in these areas were recorded following the agency policies and procedures.
Daily records showed people were supported to maintain a healthy balanced diet and their healthcare was being monitored. One relative said ‘‘The staff are very good and keep me informed of any issues, particularly where health is concerned.’’
There were regular opportunities for people and people that matter to them to raise issues, concerns and compliments. People were confident their concerns would be listened to by the registered manager/staff and acted upon. There were also regular opportunities for people using the service to get together for social events and chats about how they would like to see the service working for them in the future.