Hodman Care Ltd

Updated 22 April 2020

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

This inspection was carried out 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 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

We gave the service 24 hours' notice of the inspection because it is a small service. We needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 12 February 2020 and ended on 24 February 2020. We visited the office location on 12 February 2020.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the clinical commissioning group who work with the service and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five of staff including the registered manager, volunteer care co-ordinator and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included the person’s care records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, and policies and procedures were also reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and further procedures.

Updated 22 April 2020

About the service

Hodman Care Limited is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of inspection one person was receiving personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The person’s medicines were not always managed safely. Creams were not recorded on the person’s medicines records. We have made a recommendation about medicines management. Staff competencies to administer Medicines had been audited.

Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuse were in place, but the registered manager and staff were not familiar with the local authorities safeguarding process. We have made a recommendation about safeguarding.

The person was 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. However, the policies and systems in the service did not fully support this practice .

The provider’s recruitment rationale was not always evidenced when employing staff . We have made a recommendation about recruitment procedures.

Risks to the person had been assessed and reviewed. Care plans provided staff with guidance to meet their needs safely. The person was supported to maintain good health and had accessed health care services when needed. Staff prepared food and drink to meet the person’s dietary needs and requirements when required.

Staff training had been kept up to date and staff received formal supervision, but no annual appraisal. Staff practices were audited by the registered manager to ensure they provided care that people needed. Staff induction processes were sufficiently robust.

We were assured the person's needs and wishes were comprehensively and holistically assessed. There were systems and processes in place to assess and monitor the quality of care provided.

The registered manager was aware of their legal responsibilities and notified the Care Quality Commission as required. Improved communication and systems were in place to ensure the views of people, relatives and staff were sought, and any learning was shared with the staff team when things went wrong.

The person was supported by regular reliable staff who knew them and their needs well, which promoted continuity of care. A relative was confident complaints would be listened to and acted on. It was evident that people’s views about the service were sought individually and through surveys.

Rating at last inspection.

The last rating for this service was good (published 2 September 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating. We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the Safe, Effective, and Well-led sections of this full report.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

Enforcement

We have identified a breach in relation safeguarding. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk .