Background to this inspection
Updated
9 October 2019
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.
Inspection team
Two inspectors carried out this announced inspection.
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 a short period notice of the inspection because, prior to visiting the service, we wanted to speak with staff and people who use the service.
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. 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
Inspection activity started on 4 September 2019 and ended on 13 September 2019. On 4 September 2019 we spoke on the telephone with four people who use the service and three other people’s relatives about their experience of the care provided.
We visited the office location on 5 September 2019 and spoke to 11 staff members. These included the registered manager, the service manager, two care co-ordinators, two assistant team managers, four reablement workers, and an occupational therapist.
We sampled a range of records. These included seven people’s care and medication records. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, investigations and meeting minutes.
We received feedback via email from seven external health and or social care professionals during the inspection period. We also received feedback from Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.
Updated
9 October 2019
Cambridgeshire County Council Reablement Service North (Huntingdon Team) is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to adults living in their own homes in Huntingdon and surrounding areas, so that they can live as independently as possible. Most people who used the reablement service were supported for a period of up to six weeks, but in exceptional circumstances this could be extended. The service also provides support for people to avoid admission to hospital and mainstream domiciliary care.
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. At the time of this inspection, 44 people received the regulated activity, personal care. In the last 12 months, 403 people received care and or support from this service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Staff did not always follow the provider’s policy when administering people’s medicines. This meant senior staff were unable to effectively monitor that people’s medicines were administered safely and in line with the prescriber’s instructions.
Staff worked well together. They understood, and met, people’s needs, supporting them to regain their independence. People were protected from avoidable harm by a staff team trained and confident to recognise and report any concerns. Staff assessed and minimised any potential risks to people. Staff followed the provider’s procedures to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the risk of cross contamination.
The provider had systems in place to make sure they only employed staff once they had checked they were suitable to work with people who used the service. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs safely. Staff had the time to ensure people’s needs were met safely, and in a way that suited them. Staff were trained and very well supported to meet people’s assessed needs.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were involved in making decisions about their care and support.
Staff were respectful when they spoke with, and about, people. People praised staff and the service they received from them. Support was person-centred and met each person’s specific needs and goals. People and their relatives were involved in developing and reviewing their, or their family member's, care plans.
People and their families felt able to raise concerns. The provider had systems in place, including a complaints procedure, to deal with any concerns or complaints. The registered manager promoted a culture that focused on people as individuals. The provider had put robust systems in place to effectively monitor the service and bring about further improvement.
Staff were proud to work for the service and worked in partnership with external professionals to help support and promote people’s well-being.
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 (our last inspection report was published on 14 March 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.