Archived: Flexicare

Updated 10 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 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 the 2 October 2018. It was an announced inspection. We told the provider 48 hours before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because the registered manager is sometimes out of the office supporting staff or visiting children who use the service. We needed to be sure that someone would be there to support the inspection.

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give us key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the completed PIR and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about in law. We also requested feedback from commissioners and community professionals. We received two responses.

We spoke with 11 parents, eight staff and volunteers (staff) and the registered manager. We looked at six children's care records, five staff files and related training records. We also looked at a range of records relating to the management of the service, including feedback regarding the service, incident and accident records.

Updated 10 November 2018

This inspection took place on 2 October 2018 and was announced. Flexicare is a small Oxfordshire ‘sitting’ service that provides support to families who have children living with severe physical and/or learning disabilities. At the time of inspection, the service was delivering personal care to 36 families.

At the time of our inspection a registered manager was in place at the service. 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.

This was the first inspection of the service under its current registration.

The service had recruitment process in place. However, records did not always clearly reflect the provider had made all necessary checks when recruiting new staff. We recommended that the provider refers to current regulations and guidance relating to recruitment.

Staff were trained to administer medicines. Recording processes and guidance were not always detailed and robust, however, staff had received child specific training to ensure they were meeting their medication needs safely. We recommended the provider seeks guidance in line with best practice on medicine management.

Processes were in place to protect children from the risk of abuse and risks to children had been assessed. Staff spoken with had a clear understanding of their responsibility to raise any concerns or issues. Children received safe care.

Risks to children's health and wellbeing were assessed before any support was provided. This was regularly reviewed to ensure children continued to be assisted in a safe manner.

The service was responsive when things went wrong, were open and reviewed practices and had a robust system in place to manage incidents.

Children’s care needs had been assessed and staff were provided with relevant information both within their training and in children’s care plans, to meet their needs.

Staff received an effective induction, training and ongoing development. Parents who used the service were complimentary about the standard of care at the service.

Children's privacy and dignity were respected by the staff supporting them.

Staff said they felt supported by the registered manager. Parents and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service. Parents felt comfortable raising any issues or concerns directly with staff and there were arrangements in place to deal with any complaints.

People, their relatives and staff were positive about the registered manager and their leadership of the service. There were systems in place to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the service.