Background to this inspection
Updated
26 August 2022
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 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by an 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 and flats and specialist housing.
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
This inspection was unannounced.
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. 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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager, regional manager and four members of staff. The Expert by Experience spoke with six family members and two people who used the service.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people's care records and medication records. We looked at two staff records in relation to recruitment and the management of staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
26 August 2022
About the service
Homelife Carers Weston Super Mare is a Domiciliary Care agency based in Weston Super Mare. The service supports 222 people and provides personal care to 216 people. They provide personal care to people aged 65 and over with physical and mental health care needs. Not everyone who used the service required personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe using the service. Staff had been fully trained to identify and act upon any safeguarding concerns. People's risks had been identified and there was guidance for staff that demonstrated how to reduce risk and keep people safe. People received their medicines safely; staff were trained in medicines management and administration.
People were supported by consistent regular staff that provided personalised support. There were enough staff to meet people's needs and they had been recruited safely. People's care and support plans were individualised and included life histories, their preferences and abilities. Staff enjoyed working with people and were proud of the care they delivered.
People's dignity and privacy were promoted and maintained. People told us how kind and caring the staff were and the service was well managed. Staff felt confident and were well supported.
People and their relatives knew how to raise concerns if required and were satisfied with the care provided. 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.
The registered manager promoted an open, positive and inclusive culture in the service. Equality and diversity was embedded in the processes of the service.
Rating at last inspection and update
This is the first inspection since the service reregistered with CQC under a new legal entity on 8 April 2021. The last rating for this service under the previous provider, was requires improvement (published 22 May 2019) and there were breaches of regulation. The previous provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk