Background to this inspection
Updated
13 July 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
The inspection was carried out by an inspector and an Expert by Experience who telephoned people who used the service, and their relatives, to seek feedback. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
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
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since its registration. We sought feedback from the local authority. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
The inspection commenced on 31 May 2023 with feedback being provided to the registered manager on 16 June 2023. We visited the office of the service, spoke with 6 people who used the service and 9 family members. We spoke with the registered manager and received feedback from 13 staff.
We used electronic file sharing to enable us to review some documentation. We reviewed 4 people’s care records, staff recruitment files for 4 staff members, training, induction and competency assessment records for staff. We also reviewed governance records including policies and procedures, and quality assurance records.
Updated
13 July 2023
About the service
District Care is a domiciliary care service providing care and support to people living in their own homes. The service provides support to adults some of whom may be living with dementia, a physical disability or a sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection there were 40 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 and relatives were complimentary about their experience with District Care and would recommend using the service. A relative said, “I would definitely recommend. They are a very friendly team, on the ball and efficient.”
People were supported by a staff team who were safely recruited and knew how to protect them from potential harm. People received their care visits at the times they expected, for the length of time agreed, and from staff they knew.
Risks to people had been assessed and were managed safely. Care plans had been developed from an initial care needs assessments. People and relatives told us they were involved in care planning.
Staff had training to do their job and had support from their managers when they needed it. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs.
People received their medicines as prescribed. Staff adhered to infection prevention and control procedures in line with legislative requirements and recognised best practice guidelines.
Staff understood the importance of gaining consent from people and ensured people's privacy and dignity was respected.
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 and relatives told us most staff were kind and caring. People were treated with respect and dignity. Staff promoted people's independence when it was appropriate.
People and relatives described being able to raise any issues with the staff and management team and were confident these would be addressed.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 30 January 2023).
The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
We carried out an unannounced inspection of this service on 10 November 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve the safety, effectiveness and management of the service.
We undertook this comprehensive inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements.
The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for District Care on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.