The Care Quality Commission
  • Services in your home
  • Homecare service

Archived: First Key Worcester

Unit 3, Lowesmoor Wharf, Lowesmoor, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR1 2RS (01905) 611147

Provided and run by:
Scope

All Inspections

8 April 2013

During a routine inspection

At the time of the inspection, the agency was providing care to a limited number of people. We inspected the agency office and spoke on the telephone with two people who used the service. We found people had been involved in making decisions about their care and treatment.

People were complimentary about the care and support they received. One person told us, 'They are very supportive. I think they are great.' Another person said, 'The support I receive gives me more freedom and choice.'

People told us that they felt safe when care workers provided care and support.

The provider had a system in place to make sure staff recruited had the required documents and checks in place to protect people.

People who used the service were cared for by workers who were suitably trained and qualified to meet people's needs.

The provider made sure care workers were trained to an appropriate standard to meet people's needs.

The provider had systems in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received.

We last inspected the service on 27 July 2012 we found that the provider had incomplete records. During this Inspection we found improvements had been made.

In this report the name of a registered manager appears who was not in post and not managing the regulatory activities at this location at the time of the inspection. Their name appears because they were still a Registered Manager on our register at the time.

30 July 2012

During a routine inspection

The service provided care to three people who lived in their own homes. Each of the three people required differing levels of support which was reflected in the care hours they received each week.

People who used the service told us that their independence was supported and that the service was flexible in meeting their needs. People told us that staff arrived on time to provide care and that they had continuity of care as they were supported by a regular team of staff who they knew.

We were told by two people that used the service that they had been involved in interviewing prospective care workers. This meant that they had an input in to which people were the most suitable for the role, and to deliver their care.

The registered manager told us that the provider had not had a full-time regional manager to oversee the delivery of all its services in Worcestershire for a considerable time, and that another regional manager had been filling in. We were told that interviews for a regional manager for all local services were due to take place the week after we inspected.

7 June 2011

During a routine inspection

The person who we spoke to told us that she was treated with respect and that her views were listened to by the staff and management. She said staff arrived on time.

She was able to choose when her support was given, for example, when she wanted to be helped to get up and to go to bed.

We found that there was a stable staff group who had been appropriately trained and felt well supported. The service had not had to use agency or temporary staff. The person we spoke to said, 'I always get the helpers that I know, which is great'.

People's views were being sought as part of planning the support that they needed. They were not being asked for feedback in a formal way, such as by survey, but the team co-ordinator supported them weekly so was able to ask them directly for their views.