We carried out a review of the data available to us about Southern Counties Caring Ltd 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 Southern Counties Caring Ltd, you can give feedback on this service.
Southern Counties Caring Ltd is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care for people from children to older adults living in their own homes, some of whom were being cared for at the end of their lives. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care', which includes help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection there were two people who received personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe; care plans and risk assessments promoted their safety and wishes. One relative told us, “My mind is at rest and I can leave my relative, knowing they are safe with staff.” Staff received safeguarding training and were knowledgeable on the prevention and reporting of abuse. People’s safety was promoted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff received relevant training, had appropriate personal protective equipment and underwent a regular COVID-19 testing regime.
People were supported by trained and competent staff. Staff received training to assist people with their medicines and care needs. Staff felt supported by the registered manager. One staff member told us, “The registered manager, trained me and showed me exactly how to do things until I was confident to do my job on my own.”
People’s initial needs were assessed by the registered manager, and person-centred care plans were developed to enable people to have control of the support they received. One relative told us, “I think the assessment process was thorough and my relative’s preferences were considered.”
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 cared for by consistent staff. One relative told us, “We tend to see the same faces.” People confirmed staff asked permission before offering support. Staff understood the importance of gaining consent and respecting people’s wishes. One staff member told us, “I go to [person] and verbally ask permission. They have never refused, but if they did, I would respect their decision.”
People were supported by staff who respected their individuality. One staff member told us, “I like to work with all different people, making people smile even when they are so unwell.” One relative told us, “They treat my relative with the utmost of respect, my relative loves seeing them, and they have great a laugh together.”
The registered manager sought feedback and built rapports with people, their relatives and staff. People and staff told us they felt comfortable to make suggestions, comments or complaints and felt they would be listened to by the registered manager. People and staff spoke highly of the registered manager. One person told us, “I would be happy for any family member to have the agency go to them, I couldn’t fault them.”
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 4 December 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This is the first inspection for this 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.