Updated 22 June 2021
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 and an Expert by Experience.
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. 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
This inspection was announced. We gave the service two days’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. We were mindful of the impact and added pressures of COVID-19 pandemic on the service. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances and requirements arising as part of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspection activity started on 17 May 2021 and ended on 26 May 2021. We visited the office location on 25 May 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 13 people, or their relatives about their experience of using the service.
We spoke with the registered manager and six members of the care staff team.
We reviewed a range of records. This included parts of five people’s care records and several medication records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including training data and quality assurance records were considered in making our judgements.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider and other professionals to validate evidence found. We spoke with four professionals who regularly engage with the service.