Background to this inspection
Updated
21 November 2020
The inspection
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.
Inspection team
One inspector and an assistant inspector carried out part of the inspection using virtual technology. Another inspector undertook a site visit to the provider’s office.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the registered manager 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to ensure they would be available to support the inspection. Virtual technology inspection activity commenced on 9 October 2020 and ended on 14 October 2020. We completed our inspection with a site visit to the provider’s office on 12 November 2020.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since our last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as allegations of abuse. We also sought feedback from Local Authorities who were involved in agreeing people’s packages of care between themselves and the provider. No information of concern was shared with us. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We did use the PIR last submitted to us from provider. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We used virtual technology to have face to face conversations with six people to gain their feedback about the services. Another person sent us email feedback about their experiences of the service. We spoke with six members of care staff, the deputy manager, the registered manager and the head of care. The head of care is the nominated individual for the service and is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records, risk management plans, daily notes and medication records. We looked at staff training records and staff support through team meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including infection prevention procedures were reviewed.
Updated
21 November 2020
About the service
Father Hudson’s Domiciliary Care provides personal care to adults living with a learning disability and / or mental health support needs such as anxiety. People had their own tenancies with flats within St Vincent’s House or the local community. At the time of the inspection all 15 people in receipt of a package of care from the provider received a regulated activity of personal care as part of their support from the provider. Some people received a 24-hour package of supported living care and others received smaller packages of care depending on their agreed support needs.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support, Right Care and Right Culture and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People described staff as kind and caring and their support as good. They felt involved in their care and support. Care was personalised and people’s different needs were responded to.
People felt safe with staff members, who had been trained to protect people from the risks of abuse. Where concerns were raised these were acted on by the registered manager.
There was consistency in which staff supported people. This meant staff knew people well and how to protect them from identified risk of harm or injury. Risk management plans were included in people’s plans of care which staff could refer to. The registered manager had systems in place to ensure risk management plans were read and followed by staff.
The provider had systems in place to check the suitability of staff, who were trained, and checks were undertaken on their skills and competencies.
People were supported with their prescribed medicines as needed by trained care staff.
Staff had supported people to understand the importance of hand-washing and infection prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff understood infection prevention and control measures and actions they should follow in line with Coronavirus guidance.
Staff followed professional healthcare guidance where this had been given. People were supported to access healthcare services if required. Staff worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and understood the importance of gaining consent from people. People were supported to have maximum 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.
There were quality assurance systems in place to check the safety and quality of the services. Compliance checks were made by the provider and had identified where improvements were needed and these had been acted on.
Rating at the last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 4 January 2019).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Father Hudson’s Society DCC on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.