Background to this inspection
Updated
17 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 checked 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 was an announced inspection and took place on 5 and 10 October 2018. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice of the inspection because the service is a domiciliary care agency and the registered manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.
Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also checked notifications made to us by the provider, safeguarding alerts raised regarding people living at home and information we held on our database about the service and provider. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We used this information to plan the inspection.
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
There were 32 people receiving a service and 24 staff. During the inspection, we spoke with ten people and their relatives’ and six staff. We also spoke with the registered manager and care services manager during our visit.
We looked at four people’s care plans and three staff files. We also checked records, policies and procedures and quality assurance systems.
Updated
17 November 2018
This was an announced inspection that took place on 5 and 10 October 2018.
This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented, and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service. The agency is registered to provide domiciliary care to older people, people with dementia, mental health, a physical disability and sensory impairment. It is located in the Clapham area of London. There were 32 people receiving a service at the time of the inspection.
This was the first inspection since the service was registered.
There was a registered manager in post. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People told us they were satisfied with the service they received and the way that staff provided care and support.
The records were up to date and clearly recorded the choices people made, if they were met and the care and support people received. Staff were supported to perform their duties by records that were fully completed and regularly reviewed.
Staff were aware of their responsibilities towards the people they supported, the tasks they performed and knew how people liked to be supported. Staff were equipped with appropriate skills and provided care and support in a professional, kind and compassionate way.
Staff were aware that they must treat people with respect, equally and observe their diversity and human rights. People and their relatives felt fairly treated by staff.
Staff received appropriate training. They made themselves accessible to people and encouraged feedback from them. Staff said the organisation was a good place to work, they enjoyed their work and had access to good training and support.
The registered manager and staff encouraged people and their relatives to discuss health and other needs and agreed information was passed on to community based health professionals, as required.
Staff protected people from nutrition and hydration associated risks by giving them advice about healthy food options whilst still making sure people’s likes, dislikes and preferences were met.
The agency was aware of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and their responsibilities regarding it.
The agency consistently monitored and assessed the quality of the service provided.