Background to this inspection
Updated
16 February 2022
We carried out this performance review and assessment under Section 46 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act). We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements of the regulations associated with the Act and looked at the quality of the service to provide a rating.
Unlike our standard approach to assessing performance, we did not physically visit the office of the location. This is a new approach we have introduced to reviewing and assessing performance of some care at home providers. Instead of visiting the office location we use technology such as electronic file sharing and video or phone calls to engage with people using the service and care workers.
Inspection team
This inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means 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 did not give the provider notice of this inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During this Inspection
Inspection activity started on 19 January 2022 and ended on 26 January 2022. We received feedback from two people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We received feedback from three care workers, and we had a video call with the registered manager on 26 January 2022. We reviewed a range of records relating to the management of the service, including training records, evidence of monitoring care practice and medication competencies, and overall governance.
Updated
16 February 2022
About the service
1st Homecare Kings Langley is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to people ln their own homes. The service provides support to older people and younger adults living with conditions including dementia, physical disabilities, or sensory impairments. At the time of our inspection there were 43 people using the service.
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 felt safe and protected from avoidable harm because care workers knew how to identify and report any concerns relating to the risk of abuse. Risks to people’s health, safety and well-being were assessed and measures developed to remove or reduce the risks. People were supported by care workers who had been safely recruited.
People’s medicines were managed safely. Care workers received appropriate training and had their competency assessed to help ensure they were sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable to safely administer medicines. Care workers received training in infection control practices, and personal protective equipment was provided for them. The management team took appropriate action following any incidents and learning was shared with care workers.
Before care delivery started assessments were completed to make sure people’s needs could be met by 1st Homecare Kings Langley. Care workers and the management team knew people well and were able to promptly identify when people’s needs changed, and they sought professional advice appropriately. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care workers supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People and relatives praised the kind and caring nature of the care workers. People received consistent care from a small team of care workers whom they became comfortable with. People knew about their care plans and could decide what care and support they needed. People told us they would be confident to raise any concerns with the management team. Everyone we spoke with during this inspection was satisfied with the care and support they received.
The management team was committed to providing a high standard of care to the people they supported as well as care workers. People, their relatives and care workers spoke highly of the management team and told us they were always available to provide support.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
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Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good, published on 11 November 2018.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on change of provider’s registration with CQC.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
This was an ‘inspection using remote technology’. This means we did not visit the office location and instead used technology such as electronic file sharing to gather information, and video and phone calls to engage with people using the service as part of this performance review and assessment.