Archived: Q1Care Limited

The concerns related to the adequacy of employment checks prior to the appointment and deployment of staff. This included, staff working with vulnerable people prior to references being received and disclosure and barring checks being completed. In addition, missed calls had occurred where some people had not received their medicines. It was further claimed that support for staff was on occasions inadequate and that access to senior staff during out of office hours was not always possible. Additional concerns were raised about the adequacy of staff training particularly relating to moving and handling.

Following this focused inspection we found that some of the concerns were substantiated and some were partially substantiated. The service was now in breach of Regulation 19. This related to the lack of robust recruitment procedures which had allowed staff to work with people prior to all necessary checks being in place.

Q1Care Limited is a domiciliary care agency based in Theale, Reading, providing personal care and support to people living in their own homes. A registered manager was 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Q1Care Limited is a small domiciliary care agency. Care and support is provided to people in their own home to promote their independence and well-being.

The service had a registered manager. 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 2008 and associated regulations about how the service is run.

People told us that they felt safe with staff and would be confident to raise any concerns they had. The provider’s recruitment procedures were mostly thorough and medicines were managed safely. There were sufficient staff to provide safe, effective care at the times agreed by the people who were using the service.

There were procedures in place to manage risks to people and staff. Staff were aware of how to deal with emergency situations and knew how to keep people safe by reporting concerns promptly through processes that they understood well.

Staff received an induction and spent time working with experienced members of staff before working alone with people. The induction process corresponded with the 15 standards that health and social care workers need to complete during their induction period. Staff were supported to receive the training and development they needed to care for and support people’s individual needs.

People and their families were complementary of the services provided. The comments we received demonstrated that people felt valued and listened to. People were treated with kindness and respect whilst their independence was promoted within their homes and the community. People received care and support from familiar and regular staff and would recommend the service to other people.

People’s needs were reviewed regularly and their care and support plans promoted person-centred care. Up to date information was communicated to staff to ensure they could provide the appropriate care and support for each individual. Staff knew how to contact healthcare professionals in a timely manner if there were concerns about a person’s wellbeing.

The provider had a system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received and identified areas for improvement.