We carried out a review of the data available to us about Samorem Health Care on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Samorem Health Care, you can give feedback on this service.
Samorem Health Care is a domiciliary (home care) care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
At the time of our inspection there were six people using the service of which two received the regulated activity of personal care. 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 were safeguarded from harm and the risk of this by trained and knowledgeable staff. Risks to people and staff were identified and managed. Sufficient staff with appropriate skills were recruited safely. Staff demonstrated effective practise in preventing the risk of, or control of, infections. One person told us, “[Staff] always wear their personal protective equipment (PPE) and they take it away with them."
Due to restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic, the registered manager used video technology to train staff in practical ways such as the use of PPE to increase their competence. Staff had relevant training and skills. However, not all staff training and also what the training consisted of had been recorded. The registered manager took action to address this.
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 were supported to eat and drink enough and have access healthcare services. The provider and its staff worked well with others involved in people's care.
People's care was person centred and people were able to have others involved in their care. Staff were creative and adapted their approach to people's different communication skills. People's concerns were acted on before they became a complaint. There were policies and procedures to support people with end of life care if needed.
The registered manager was aware of their responsibilities. They supported staff in their role and acted on feedback from people, relatives and staff. Most audits were effective in identifying areas requiring improvement. The provider took learning onboard to drive improvement. The provider worked well with others to help ensure people received joined up care.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 16 May 2019) and there were multiple breaches of regulation.
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 25 April 2019 and 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 safe care and treatment, staff recruitment and the effectiveness of the provider's quality assurance.
Why we inspected
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions: Is the service Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led questions, which contain those requirements.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. 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 comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Samorem Health Care on our website at www.cqc.org.uk
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
People’s experience of using this service: People, a relative and a person’s advocate spoke positively about the staff who supported them and the registered manager. We were told that staff arrived on time and at times people were happy with. Staff worked their allotted times and were not rushed. People’s representatives believed the people they cared about had a better quality of life because of the input of the staff and the registered manager.
An advocate said, “[Name of person’s] health, their appearance, and the appearance of their home has actually improved. [Name of person] is happy now.”
We found that when people were unwell or if there were potential concerns the registered manager took appropriate and quick action to respond to this. People received their medicines as prescribed.
Effective plans to support the service to continue in an emergency were not in place.
Staff recruitment checks were not always completed, and staff did not always have the knowledge about how to fully protect people from abuse.
Risk assessments were in place but did not fully explore the needs and risks which people faced. Care plans did not give detailed guidance to inform staff how to care for people in a safe way. People did not have meaningful reviews of their care.
Staff training, and knowledge was not tested by the management of the service to ensure it was effective. Staff did not receive regular checks on their practice. Training was not always tailored to people’s needs.
People told us that they were happy with the support they received with their meals and drinks. A person’s relative complimented the staff at supporting their relative to eat the cultural foods that they enjoyed and had eaten all their life.
Systems to check the quality of the service were not in place.
There were breaches in the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Rating at last inspection: This is Samorem Health Care’s first inspection.
Why we inspected: This was the first inspection based on when the service first registered with the Care Quality Commission.
Follow up: We have asked the provider to send us an action plan telling us what steps they are to take to make the improvements needed. We will continue to monitor information and intelligence we receive about the service to ensure the necessary improvements are made. We will return to re-inspect in line with our inspection timescales for Requires Improvement services.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk