Archived: Nurseplus UK

Updated 24 August 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 1 August 2017 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. Before the inspection we looked at all the information we had about the service. This information included statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. The provider had also completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to help inform our inspection planning.

The inspection team comprised of one inspector. We looked at the care records of four people who used the service, staff training and recruitment records and records relating to the management of the service. We spoke with the registered manager, the senior coordinator, the provider’s quality assurance advisor, an internal trainer and three care staff. We also visited three people using the service and two relatives at their homes to gain their views about the service.

Updated 24 August 2017

This inspection took place on 1 August 2017 and was announced. Nurse Plus and Carer Plus (UK) Limited provide care and support for people living in their own homes. This was our first inspection at the service. At the time of this inspection the provider was providing the regulated activity ‘personal care’ to twelve people.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The service had appropriate safeguarding adults and whistleblowing procedures in place and staff had a clear understanding of these procedures. Appropriate recruitment checks took place before staff started work. There was enough staff available to meet people’s care and support needs. Procedures were in place to support people where risks to their health and welfare had been identified. People were appropriately supported where required to take their medicines.

Staff had completed an induction when they started work and they had received training relevant to the needs of people using the service. The registered manager and staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and acted according to this legislation. People’s care files included assessments relating to their dietary support needs. People had access to health care professionals when they needed them.

People and their relatives, where appropriate, had been involved in planning for their care needs. Care records included detailed information and guidance for staff about how people’s needs should be met. People’s privacy and dignity was respected. There was a matching process in place that ensured people were supported by staff that had the experience, skills and training to meet their needs. People knew about the complaints procedure and said they were confident their complaints would be fully investigated and action taken if necessary.

The provider recognised the importance of monitoring the quality of the service provided to people. They took into account the views of people using the service through monitoring visits and satisfaction surveys. They carried out unannounced spot checks to make sure people were being supported in line with their care plans. Staff said they enjoyed working at the service and they received good support from the registered manager, senior coordinator and office staff. There was an out of hours on call system in operation that ensured management support and advice was always available for staff when they needed it.