Archived: Live Well at Home

Updated 24 July 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection of Live Well at Home was completed on 11 and 12 June 2015. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care 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.

Prior to the inspection we looked at the information we had about the service. This information included the previous inspection report and statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We reviewed the Provider Information Record (PIR). The PIR was information given to us by the provider. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, tells us what the service does well and the improvements they plan to make.

We contacted two social care professionals as part of our planning process and invited them to provide feedback on their experiences of working with the service. The comments we received have been included in the body of the report.

During the inspection we visited six people in their own homes and spoke with 12 people on the telephone. We also spoke with the relatives of three people by telephone. We met with the manager, the two team leaders, two senior carers and four care staff.

We looked at 10 care records, six staff recruitment files and training records, and other records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 24 July 2015

The inspection was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice that we were starting our inspection because we wanted key people to be available. The service was previously inspected in July 2013 and then revisited again in November 2013 to make sure that the service had made improvements with staff recruitment. The required improvements had been made.

Live Well at Home provides a domiciliary care service to people living in the Forest of Dean, an extra care sheltered housing scheme in Cinderford and an older person’s housing scheme in Lydney, all in Gloucestershire. At the time of the inspection the service was providing a service to 107 people.

There was no registered manager in post at the time of this inspection however the manager had already submitted her application to be registered and the interview was scheduled for 19 June 2015. Subsequent to the inspection we were advised that the manager’s application had been approved and they were registered as from 24 June 2015. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider.

People said they felt safe with the care staff who visited them. Where a person was supported with moving and handling tasks this was completed competently as staff had been trained to use the equipment. All staff received safeguarding adults training and were aware of safeguarding issues and their responsibilities to protect people from harm. Staff knew how to report any concerns. Robust recruitment procedures ensured that unsuitable staff who had been barred from working with vulnerable people were not employed. Risks were well managed in order to reduce or eliminate the risk and keep people safe. Where people were supported with their medicines this was done safely.

People were involved in setting up the service delivery arrangements and received the care and support they expected. Their preferences and choices were respected. People were provided with a copy of their care plans. Care staff were knowledgeable about the people they looked after and received appropriate training and support to enable them to undertake their roles effectively. People were provided with sufficient meals and drinks if this had been assessed as part of their care plan. Staff would report any concerns they had regarding people’s dietary and fluid intake and were supported to access health care services if needed.

People received their care and support from a small number of care staff because of the way in which staff rotas were worked. Most staff worked for four days and then had four days off and had good relationships with the people they supported. People were treated with kindness and respect and were always included in making decisions about their daily lives.

People and care staff said the service was well-led and they were encouraged to provide feedback. The quality and safety of the service was regularly monitored and used to make improvements. The service had a plan for making improvements.