Background to this inspection
Updated
24 June 2023
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 Health and Social Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was conducted by one inspector and an Expert by Experience with experience of care of older people. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
Registered Manager
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. The provider was given short notice because the location provides a domiciliary care 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 13 June 2023 when we visited the location’s office and ended on 14 June 2023.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the provider and reviewed a range of records including records relating to the care and support provided. We reviewed additional records which included staff files in relation to recruitment, and various audits/reports relating to the quality and safety of the service. We requested a variety of records were sent to us relating to staff training and regarding the management of the service.
After the inspection
After our visit we continued to seek feedback from people using the service, relatives and staff to obtain their views of the service provided to people. We also contacted 4 healthcare professionals and received feedback from 1 of them. We received feedback from 5 people using the service, 5 relatives and a further 5 staff members. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
24 June 2023
About the service
Simply Joy is a domiciliary care service supporting adults in the community who require personal care in the Paignton and Torbay areas. 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. At the time of our inspection there were 16 people using the service who received personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People felt safe with staff and staff knew how to report safeguarding concerns. People told us their care was delivered as required and they had confidence in the staff that supported them. One relative told us, “My wife has been having care now for just 2 months, once a day. So far the carers have all been very good and she feels safe with them.”
People received the support they required with their medicines. Staff were recruited safely and received appropriate induction, ongoing training and support from the provider. People had their care planned to their individual needs and where required risk assessments were in place to reduce known risks.
People were supported to eat and drink where needed and told us they received the required level of support. 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 confirmed they were involved in choices and decisions regarding their care and support, including a choice of which staff would support them. People and their relatives told us the staff that supported them were caring and respected them as individuals. One member of staff commented, “I feel people should get the best care they deserve and you should always give them the best you can.”
There was a process in place to respond to complaints. Care plans were person centred and reflected the needs of each person. Routines were discussed with people and they had been involved in completing their care planning. Staff supported people to make healthcare appointments where needed.
Staff told us they were happy in their jobs and were keen to make a positive difference in people’s lives. There was positive feedback from people and staff about the service management. A number of methods were used to assess the quality and safety of the service people received.
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 17 January 2022 and this is their first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.