Background to this inspection
Updated
15 January 2021
As part of a pilot into virtual inspections of domiciliary and extra-care housing services, the Care Quality Commission conducted an inspection of this provider on 21 October, 29 October and 15 December 2020. The inspection was carried out with the consent of the provider and was part of a pilot to gather information to inform CQC whether it might be possible to conduct inspections in a different way in the future. We completed this inspection using virtual methods and online tools such as electronic file sharing, video calls and phone calls to gather the information we rely on to form a judgement on the care and support provided. At no time did we visit the provider’s or location’s office as we usually would when conducting an inspection.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector, one medicines inspector and CQC support services.
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 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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us. Inspection activity started on 21 October 2020 and ended on 15 December 2020.
What we did before 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 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 six people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager and five care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records and medicines records. We looked at five staff files in relation to training and supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
15 January 2021
This report was created as part of a pilot which looked at new and innovative ways of fulfilling CQC’s regulatory obligations and responding to risk in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was conducted with the consent of the provider. ¿Unless the report says otherwise, we obtained the information in it without visiting the Provider.
About the service
Jays Homecare Limited is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care and support to 35 people in their own homes in the London Borough of Brent and surrounding 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received appropriate support with taking their medicines to help them manage their health conditions. Staff completed medicines training and had an assessment to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to support people with their medicines safely. Records for the management of medicines were accurate.
Staff assessed risks to people’s health and well-being. A risk management plan was put in place that identified risks and provided staff with guidance on how to manage and mitigate each risk found. These plans were reviewed to ensure they were accurate and effective.
Effective processes were in place to recruit suitably skilled and experienced staff.
Staff followed the provider’s safeguarding processes and procedures to keep people safe from harm and to report any allegation of abuse.
Staff understood how to prevent and control infections whilst delivering care and support to people. The registered manager ensured there was sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff to use to protect themselves and people from the risk of infection.
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 received care from a service that was well led by an effective management team. Staff were complimentary about the support they received from the registered manager which helped them to carry out their jobs. Quality audits were completed to identify areas for improvement and to ensure care was of a good standard and quality.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 17 May 2018).
Why we inspected
This was a planned pilot virtual inspection. The report was created as part of a pilot which looked at new and innovative ways of fulfilling CQC’s regulatory obligations and responding to risk in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was conducted with the consent of the provider. Unless the report says otherwise, we obtained the information in it without visiting the Provider.
The pilot inspection considered the key questions of safe and well-led and provide a rating for those key questions. Only parts of the effective, caring and responsive key questions were considered, and therefore the ratings for these key questions are those awarded at the last inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.