Background to this inspection
Updated
17 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 16 December 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Prior to our visit we reviewed the information we held about the service including notifications we had received. Services are required to tell us about important events relating to the care they provide using a notification. During our visit we spoke with the registered manager, a business support manager and a care co-ordinator. We looked at a sample of five care records of people who used the service, six staff records and records related to the management of the service.
Following the inspection we contacted five relatives and one person receiving support from the service. We also spoke with four members of care staff to gain their views about how the service was run.
Updated
17 February 2017
This inspection was carried out on 16 December 2016 and was unannounced. This is the first inspection we have carried out since the service moved to its current location in August 2015.
Reed Specialist Recruitment Limited - Community Care - London is a domiciliary care agency providing a range of services including personal care for people in their own homes. The service specialises in providing care for people with complex needs. Care is commissioned by health and social care services. There were 23 people using the service at the time of the inspection, nine of whom were receiving support with personal care needs.
The service had a registered manager in post. 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.
We received positive feedback from people using the service, relatives and staff about how the service was organised and managed.
People’s needs were assessed prior to using the service and care records were comprehensive and person-centred, providing staff with the information they needed about people to care for them effectively.
Risk assessments had been carried out to address each area of risk identified for people using the service. Staff knew how to respond to medical emergencies or significant changes in a person’s health. Systems were in place to manage emergencies and to provide continuity of care to people.
The service employed enough staff to ensure people’s needs were being met. Staff recruitment procedures were robust and all relevant security checks were being followed to ensure suitable staff were employed by the service.
Staff received regular training and demonstrated a good understanding of people’s individual needs and wishes and how to meet them.
People’s health was monitored and they received regular input from healthcare professionals.
Staff received training in medicines management and people received their medicines safely.
People’s nutritional needs were identified, met and monitored and staff supported people with meal planning and preparation where this formed part of people’s care plans.
Staff understood safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures and were clear about the process to follow to report concerns.
Complaints procedures were in place and relatives said they would feel able to raise any issues so they could be addressed.
People’s capacity to make decisions about their care and support had been assessed and people were encouraged to maintain as much independence as they were able and to make decisions for themselves.
The registered manager understood their responsibilities in line with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and staff had received appropriate training in this area.
Systems were in place for monitoring the service and these were being followed. The provider recognised the importance of monitoring and improving the service and accessed health and care organisations to keep up to date with good practice guidance and legislation.