Constant Healthcare Ltd

This was the service’s first inspection since their registration with the Care Quality Commission on 15 September 2016.

Constant Healthcare Ltd is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care for adults. People who use this service have a wide range of needs including younger and older people who are living with a diagnosis of dementia, mental health needs and physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection eight people were receiving support from this provider.

The service had a registered manager in place. 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.

We recommended the provider takes steps to meet the Accessible Information Standard.

We found the service was safe. Staff had received safeguarding training and knew how to recognise the signs of abuse. Risk assessments and risk reduction plans were in place to support staff and minimise the risk of avoidable harm.

Safe processes were in place for the recruitment of staff. Risk assessments were in place and people were protected from the risks associated with infection control.

Staff had received training and were assessed as competent to administer medication. Medicine supporting documents were retained with the medicine administration record (MAR) for audit purposes and were audited on a regular basis.

People received effective support and care. People and their relatives felt staff had the right skills to do their job effectively. Staff received induction and appropriate training.

People were actively supported to remain independent and have control of their lives. People were supported to maintain their interests and activities.

Staff demonstrated an understanding of the principles of the MCA and how this related to their daily duties.

Staff treated people with kindness and compassion.

Care plans were person centred and detailed. Care plans took into account people’s religious, ethnic and cultural needs. People and relatives were involved in their care planning. People’s privacy and dignity was respected.

Care plans were reviewed and updated when necessary. Care plans were securely stored.

The service had a complaints policy in place and relatives knew how to make a complaint.

Relatives told us the service was well led.

Regular audits were undertaken to review and improve the service provided.

Staff told us there was an open culture and felt supported by the managers.

Relatives and staff were asked to provide feedback on the service. We found the nominated individual and registered manager were committed to listen and learn from experiences and to continue to develop the service for the benefit of the people they supported.