Background to this inspection
Updated
17 December 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
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 two 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. Both registered managers were allocated different geographical areas to manage and had an allocated team of reablement staff.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 4 November 2019 and ended on 15 November 2019. We visited the office location on 4 November 2019.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who worked with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection. 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 took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with seven members of staff, which included care staff, an independent living facilitator and the two registered managers.
We viewed a range of documents and records. This included three people's care records and medication records. We looked at two staff recruitment and induction files, two staff training and supervision files and a selection of records used to monitor the quality and safety of the service.
After the inspection
We contacted five people who used the service via telephone to gain their views on the service provided. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We contacted two professionals to ask for feedback on the service.
Updated
17 December 2019
About the service
Castle House is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats to predominantly older people through a short-term assessment and reablement program. This offers short-term support to help people regain their independence after an accident or ill health, or to help those with a disability to remain independent. At the time of this inspection, 30 people were using the service.
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 told us they were happy and felt safe. People were supported by consistent staff who had been recruited safety. Staff were provided with sufficient training and support to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to carry out their roles.
People received their medication as prescribed. Risks were assessed and control measures put in place where required. People’s nutritional needs were met and staff had formed positive relationships with people.
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 involved in making decisions and their choices were respected.
People were treated with dignity and respect and their independence was promoted. Staff spent time getting to know people and their goals. Staff understood the importance of understanding people’s abilities and working with them to achieve positive outcomes.
People and staff spoke positively of the management team. The registered managers were passionate about ensuring people received the support they required. Regular feedback on the service provided was requested from people and action was taken when shortfalls were found.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 16 August 2016). Since this rating was awarded the service has moved premises. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.
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.