Archived: Pure HomeCare

We spoke with three care staff that provided care and support to some of the people whose records we viewed. We found staff to be knowledgeable about the care and support people required and told us that people's the information recorded within care plans enabled them to care for people well. Staff comments included: 'Care plans provide sufficient information and are changed when required.'

Staff told us that the training they received was good and that this enabled them to care for people. One member of staff told us: 'All sorts of courses are made available; I've completed a city and guild course in dementia care.' 'We've had training in medication and we have regularly updates.'

We looked at the records of six people who used the service. We found people's care plans, risk assessments and medication records provided comprehensive and clear information for care staff as to the care and support people required, whilst recognising the need to promote independence and balance risk.

Staff we spoke with were generally happy working for the service. One staff member told us: "I think we have a good quality of care at this service." Another staff member told us that they felt that improvements had been made at the service recently in relation to new people joining the service and in relation to how medication was being recorded and managed. This staff member said: "We are now on top of medication. We do more random spot checks. They've improved dramatically."

People using the service spoke of good quality care workers coming to their homes to deliver their care. Many of the people we talked to felt that their care was being delivered by staff who were well trained and who treated them with respect. People told us that care plans were kept at their homes and that the staff made records each time they visited them. Some of the people we talked to described having had some issues with how their medication was administered to them. They told us that these issues had been rectified by the agency.

Two people we spoke with were happy with the care they received from the agency. Some of the people who used the service and their relatives expressed concern about some aspects of the care and the way in which the agency was run. Some of the people we spoke with expressed concern about the levels of training that staff received. One relative said: "Staff are not trained properly. They have a 30 minute video on dementia and then get a certificate saying they know all about dementia."

Other people were unhappy with the support in place for the carers and the way carers were recording medication. We asked if medication records were checked. One relative told us: "It's never been checked. I know it hasn't - not since February 2012." Most of the people who used the service told us that the carers who came into their homes were friendly, caring and that they treated them with respect.

We found that the agency did not have adequate systems in place to safely manage people's medication. We found that several safeguarding incidents had not been reported correctly and that staff did not always feel adequately trained and supported.

People's comments included: 'They keep to time and stay the agreed length of time. If for any reason a carer is running late they telephone me and let me know.' 'I'm very happy with the service. The carers arrive on time and we've had the same carers for over a year.' 'We're involved in the review of care and the office staff are approachable and helpful if you call.'

We spoke with three members of staff and found staff had a good understanding of the needs of people they cared for. They told us they had access to training which enabled them to care for people well.

Staff records evidenced that the service had a robust recruitment process which included a check to ensure potential staff were suitable to work with vulnerable adults.

The service maintained contact with people using the service and their relatives which included seeking people's views as part of the services quality assurance system.