Care service descriptionLeaf Care Service provides care to people in their own homes. The service can provide care for people of all ages and includes supporting people living with dementia and mental health difficulties; as well as physical, learning or sensory disabilities. Since their last inspection Leaf Care Services Ltd developed its services and has divided their home care service into two branches based in Great Yarmouth and Norwich. This inspection was related to the Norwich branch which covers Norwich, Broadland and North Norfolk areas. At the time of our inspection the Norwich office was providing care for 62 people, most of whom were older people.
Leaf has a registered manager. 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.’
Rating at last inspection
At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
Why the service is rated …
People told us they felt safe receiving the care and support provided. Staff understood and knew the signs of potential abuse and knew what to do if they needed to raise a safeguarding concern. People were supported to minimise risks in their home and were assisted to take their medicines safely. The provider used safe recruitment practices and ensured they had adequate staffing levels. Where necessary the service demonstrated they were able to analyse incidents or mistakes and make appropriate improvements.
People said the care provided was effective, with their needs and preferred outcomes appropriately assessed and recorded. The service ensured staff were suitably inducted and received ongoing training appropriate to the care provided; staff competency in key skills was routinely checked. The provider work well with health and social care professionals and supported people to live healthier lives, have a nutritious diet and receive appropriate care and treatment as required. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People told us that they found the care staff to be caring and compassionate, willing to support whenever possible. Staff were skilled in promoting independence and maintaining people’s dignity.
People told us their care was personalised and responsive to their needs. Complaints were usually dealt with effectively and quickly. The provider had skills in providing end of life care but had no recent experience of providing this care.
The provider had a clear vision to provide high quality personalised care and had good governance systems in place to ensure people’s desired outcomes were being delivered. The provider worked well in partnership with health and social care professionals and agencies to build knowledge, develop and promote good practice. The management were open and approachable both to staff and people using the service.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.