Homestead Care Service Limited

Updated 16 November 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 17 October 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because we needed to be sure that members of the management team were available to assist us with the inspection. It was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed information we held about the registered provider, including previous notifications and any complaints and safeguarding concerns received. A notification is information about important events which the registered provider is required to send to us by law.

We received a Provider Information Return (PIR) from the service. A PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what it does well and any improvements they plan to make.

During our inspection, we spoke with the registered manager and the care coordinator. We looked at ten records relating to the care of individuals, ten staff recruitment files, training records, accident and incident reports and records relating to the running of the service. We also looked at the latest report from the local authority commissioning team. They visited the service on 08/05/2018. We sampled the latest satisfaction surveys carried out this year and comments made by people when members of the management team visited them.

After the inspection we spoke with six people who used the service, four relatives and five members of staff to obtain their views of the service.

Updated 16 November 2018

This inspection took place on 17 October 2018 and was announced. At our last inspection in January 2016, we found the provider was meeting the regulations we inspected and the service was rated Good. At this inspection, we found that the service continued to be rated Good.

Homestead Care Service Limited provides care and support to people living in their own home. Not everyone using Homestead Care Service Limited receives regulated activity; the CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of this inspection there were 230 people using the service.

There was a registered manager in place. 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 provider had policies and procedures in relation to safeguarding adults. The registered manager and staff were aware of procedures to follow to safeguard people. Potential risks to people were assessed to ensure they remained safe.

System was in place to manage accidents and incidents and learn from them so they were less likely to happen again.

There were sufficient numbers of skilled and experienced staff to meet people’s needs. Checks had been carried out on staff before they started to work to make sure they were suitable to work with people who used the service.

There were systems were in place to ensure people received their medicines safely. People were supported to have a healthy and nutritious diet.

People’s needs were assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan. The management team worked with other professionals and this helped to ensure people received the support they needed to maintain their health.

Staff were knowledgeable about people they supported. People commented that staff had good relationships with them. They were encouraged to make informed decisions about their care and support. Before people received any care or support they were routinely asked for their consent. The provider had systems in place to support people who lacked capacity to make decisions for themselves.

People were supported by staff that promoted independence, respected their dignity and maintained their privacy. They were encouraged to participate in activities that were meaningful to them.

Staff were supported to maintain and develop their skills through training and development opportunities.

People and their relatives felt the service was well run and they could discuss any issues with the registered manager. Confidentiality of people’s personal information was maintained.

There were systems in place to gain the views of people and their relatives about the service. People and relatives told us they were satisfied with the care and support provided by staff. They knew who to speak to if they were unhappy or had any concerns. The provider always welcomed suggestions on how they could develop the service and make improvements.