About the service Prestige Healthcare Services Ltd is a domiciliary care agency, providing personal care support to people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection, the service was supporting 24 people with their personal care needs.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People’s medication records did not always reflect that they were administered safely. It was not always clear that people received their medications as prescribed. Where people were prescribed ‘as required’ (PRN) medication, the service did not always have protocols or guidance in place to ensure that staff knew when to administer PRN medicine.
Risks to people were not always managed in a safe way. Care records were not always up to date and accurate. Risk management plans did not always highlight how staff should mitigate risks that were identified. Action was not always taken to mitigate such risks.
Governance systems were not always effective and did not always identify actions for continuous improvements. Audits in place did not always identify when there were issues relating to the recording of medicines. We were not always notified, as required by law, of notifiable safety incidents.
Safe recruitment practices were not always followed to make sure, as far as possible, that people were protected from staff being employed who were not suitable. We have made a recommendation about ensuring robust recruitment practices.
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. However, systems in the service did not always support this practice. We have made a recommendation about working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
People’s communication needs were not always documented in accordance with the Accessible Information Standard. We have made a recommendation about ensuring the registered provider meets this standard.
People and their relatives told us they felt safe with the staff who supported them, and that staff were caring and respected their privacy and dignity. People felt the service they received helped to maintain their independence where possible.
People were treated with care and kindness. They were consulted about their care and support and could change how things were done if they wanted to. Staff worked well together for the benefit of people and were focused on the needs of people living at the service.
People and their relatives knew how to complain and knew the process to follow if they had concerns. Staff were able to describe what action they would take if a person raised a concern with them.
People were supported by skilled staff with the right knowledge and training. Staff felt the management was supportive and approachable. Staff were happy in their role which had a positive effect on people's wellbeing.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (report published 9 January 2019) and there were breaches of Regulations 12 (Safe care and treatment) and 17 (Good governance) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and Regulation 18 of Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection for the breaches of Regulation 17 and 18 to show what they would do and by when, to improve. The provider was served with a Warning notice for the breach of Regulation 12. At this inspection we found there had not been enough improvements made and the provider was still in breach of regulations.
The service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last two consecutive inspections.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating. This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection. You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.
Enforcement
We have identified continued breaches in relation to Regulations 12 (Safe care and treatment) and 17 (Good governance) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and Regulation 18 of Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009.
Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.
Follow up
We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will return to inspect as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.