Leaf Care Services

Updated 2 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

The inspection team consisted of an inspector, an assistant 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 homes.

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 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we had received about the service since our last inspection. We sought feedback from the commissioners of the service for their opinion of the quality of care provided. 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. We used all this information to plan our inspection

During the inspection

Inspection activity began on 24 February 2020 and ended on 26 February 2020. On 24 and 25 February 2020 we spoke with nine people and three relatives over the telephone about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with five staff on the telephone.

On 26 February 2020 we visited the office where we spoke with three staff including the registered manager, care manager and a senior care worker. We also spoke with the nominated individual who was present. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Updated 2 April 2020

About the service

Leaf Care is a homecare service providing personal care to people within their own homes.

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 the inspection, approximately 50 people were receiving personal care from the service.

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

Systems were in place to protect people from the risk of abuse. Risks to people’s safety had been assessed and managed well. There were enough staff available to visit people when they required this and people received their medicines when they needed them.

The staff had received appropriate training and demonstrated they had the skills and knowledge to provide people with good quality care. People were supported to eat and drink enough to meet their needs. Staff were vigilant to people’s health and contacted the relevant professionals when required. People’s consent had been sought in line with the relevant legislation.

Staff were kind and caring and treated people with compassion. People saw regular staff so they could develop caring and trusting relationships with them. People’s independence was encouraged, and they were supported to remain in their own home as much as possible.

People and relatives were happy with the quality of care being provided. The care they received met their individual needs and preferences. 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.

People had a voice which was listened to and respected. Complaints were actively encouraged to facilitate learning. People and staff felt no concern at voicing their opinions or giving feedback.

Good leadership was in place. An open culture had been embedded within the service where staff felt valued and people who used the service were treated as individuals. Robust governance processes were in place to drive improvement. The provider was keen to continuously learn and improve the care people received.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published August 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.