We carried out a review of the data available to us about Helping Hands Blackpool 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 Helping Hands Blackpool, you can give feedback on this service.
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. At the time of the inspection the agency supported 14 people.
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 we spoke with commented positively about the agency. For example, one person said, “They are the best, always on time and with a smile.” Staff were recruited safely and were deployed to suit specific needs of people. Staff demonstrated a good understanding about safeguarding people from the risk of abuse and training was provided. Staff managed medicines according to national guidelines. Support for people was planned to ensure the persons needs and wishes were considered. Risks were assessed in the individual homes and person centred to ensure people were protected and could be supported safely. Staff were provided with personal protective equipment to protect people and themselves from the spread of infection. Only appropriately trained staff managed people’s medication needs.
People received support with their healthcare and nutritional needs. They 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. Staff training was ongoing and comments from staff were positive about access and continued access to courses. Staff we spoke with confirmed this.
Staff were kind, considerate and caring towards people. Staff and the registered manager asked people for their views about their care and respected the decisions they made. The service protected people’s privacy and dignity and promoted their independence.
The service had a complaints procedure which was made available to people they supported. People we spoke with told us they knew how to make a complaint if they had any concerns.
The management team had auditing systems to maintain ongoing oversight of the service and make improvements where necessary. Quality assurance processes ensured people were able to give their views of the service and improvements made when they were identified.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The service was registered with us on 23/03/2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned first inspection based on their registration.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
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.