FCM Healthcare Agency

Updated 13 July 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service a short period notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 21 June 2023 and ended on 28 June 2023. We visited the location’s office on 21 June 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we held about the service and sought feedback from the local authority. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 1 person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 2 care workers and the registered manager who is also the nominated individual for the service. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 1 person’s care records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment.

Updated 13 July 2023

About the service

FCM Healthcare Agency is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care. The service provides support to people with dementia, older people and younger adults living in their own houses or flats. At the time of our inspection there were 1 person using the service.

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

Staff were recruited safely. Where full employment history since leaving school was not recorded in staff records the provider agreed to ensure this was collated after the inspection, we found no evidence that this posed a risk to people.

Systems and processes protected people from the risk of abuse. Risks to people were assessed, mitigated and planned into care, regular reviews took place with people and staff involvement. People were protected from the risk of infection as staff had a good understanding of infection control and had access to appropriate personal protective equipment [PPE]. People were not being supported with medicines at the time of the inspection, however, staff were trained in the safe administration of medicines should the need arise. Accidents and incidents were recorded and measures put in place to mitigate repeat incidents.

Peoples care needs were assessed prior to them joining the service to ensure their needs could be met. Staff had received training and were working towards the care certificate. Regular staff supervision and spot checks took place and staff were well supported in their role. People’s food and fluid needs were met and staff ensured people had choice. People were supported with medical appointments when required.

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; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff were kind and caring. People were encouraged to share their views and were involved in the care planning process. Staff ensured people received respectful and dignified care, independence and choice was well supported. The provider ensured people’s protected characteristics were included in the planning and delivery of care.

Care was planned to ensure people’s individualised needs and preferences could be met. Continuity of care was ensured by a regular team of staff that knew people well. People’s communication needs were assessed and planned into care; information could be made available in various formats to meet people’s needs. People were supported to take part in activities which were important to them and staff understood how this supported wellbeing.

People had access to a complaints policy and knew how to make a complaint if needed. The provider did offer an end of life service; however, they had ensured staff were trained in basic life support in case of an unexpected incident and understood the importance of communicating end of life preferences to staff should they be in place.

The provider maintained effective oversight of the safety and quality of the service. They understood the duty of candour and there was evidence of this being followed. The provider agreed to review the regulatory requirement around recruitment to improve their knowledge and understanding. There was a positive culture in the service with people and staff included in care planning and reviews and they were able to share ideas and opinions openly with the provider. The provider ensured and led by example a culture of learning and development with staff who were encouraged to enhance their skills. The provider understood the importance of multidisciplinary team working, they worked in partnership with other professionals to ensure people’s needs were met.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection This service was registered with us on 15 July 2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.