Background to this inspection
Updated
1 May 2020
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
The 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 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 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 04 March 2020 and ended on 16 March 2020. We visited the office location on 10 March 2020.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since it’s registration. We sought feedback from our partner agencies and professionals who work with the service. 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
As part of the inspection we spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager and three care assistants.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and training. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service and one relative via telephone about their experience of the care provided.
Updated
1 May 2020
About the service
Snowdrop Home Care provides personal care to people living either in their own home or the home of a family member. At the time of the inspection, approximately 21 people used the service and a registered manager was in post. 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 and relatives were very satisfied with the service people received and spoke highly of staff and the registered manager. People were supported by a small team of staff that understood their needs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People's healthcare needs were being met and medicines were being managed safely.
People were protected against avoidable harm, abuse, neglect and discrimination. The care they received was safe.
People's likes, preferences and dislikes were assessed, and care packages met people's desired expectations. Care plans were up to date and detailed what care and support people wanted and needed. Risk assessments were in place and showed what action had been taken to mitigate identified risks.
Staff were being recruited safely and there were enough staff to take care of people. Staff were receiving appropriate training and they told us the training was good and relevant to their role. Staff were supported by the registered manager and were receiving formal supervision where they could discuss their ongoing development needs.
Everyone spoke highly of the registered manager who they said was approachable and supportive. The provider had effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided and where issues were identified, they acted to make improvements. There was a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to complain. The provider and registered manager understood the regulatory requirements and monitored the quality and safety of the service on a regular basis.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 22 March 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection for a newly registered service.
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.