Lourdes Health Care Group

Updated 29 July 2022

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 and practical supports 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 two working days’ 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 23 May and ended on 27 May 2022. We visited the office location on 23 May. We reviewed documents and contacted staff and people on 27 May 2022.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service. This information included feedback we had received about the service and any statutory notifications that the provider had sent to the CQC. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager. Following the visit to the office, we contacted one care worker. Since the person using the service was unable to communicate with us, we spoke with a relative.

We reviewed a range of records which related to people's individual care and the running of the service. These records included one person’s people's care file, three staff records, policies and procedures and a range of records relating to the management and quality monitoring of the service.

Updated 29 July 2022

About the service

Lourdes Health Care Group is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care and other support to people in their own homes. At the time of this inspection, one person was receiving assistance with their personal care. The Care Quality Commission (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

Systems were in place to protect people from abuse. These included safeguarding policies and training for staff. Personalised risk assessments helped keep people safe and supported their independence.

Appropriate infection control practices were in place. Staff participated in the regular COVID-19 testing programme.

The provider ensured that there were enough suitably skilled staff to provide people with the care and support they needed and wanted. People received care from regular care staff who were punctual. The registered manager ensured changes in staffing were communicated to people. Appropriate recruitment processes helped ensure only suitable staff were employed to provide care and support to people using the service.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

There were quality assurance systems in place that monitored the service provided to people. These included obtaining feedback from people about the quality of the service they received and ‘spot checks’ of staff practice. Improvements to the service were made when needed.

The person using the service was unable to speak with us due to their needs. However, a relative spoke positively about the care and support provided by the care agency. Staff told us they received the support and training they required for their roles.

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 24 June 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned comprehensive inspection to review the key questions, Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led and rate this 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.