Background to this inspection
Updated
19 May 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector and one Experts-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.
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. As Kareplus Swindon is a small service, we needed to be sure that the provider or the registered manager would be in present the office to support the inspection.
The inspection activity started on 28 April 2021 and ended on 29 April 2021. We visited the service on 28 April 2021. On 28 and 29 April 2021 telephone calls were made and emails sent to people, relatives and staff to gain their feedback.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Prior to our inspection, we reviewed information we held about the service. This included any information received and statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
During the inspection, we spoke with one person using the service, one person’s relative and the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records relating to people's care and the way the service was managed. These included care records for three people, medicine administration records, staff training records, three staff recruitment files, staff supervision and appraisal records, quality assurance audits, incidents and accidents reports, complaints and compliments records, and records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We contacted three members of staff to obtain their opinion on the quality of the service provided.
Updated
19 May 2021
About the service
Kareplus Swindon is a domiciliary care agency providing care to people in their own homes in the Swindon area. At the time of our inspection three people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care from the service. Not everyone using the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care, which 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 were kept safe from abuse and harm, and staff knew how to report any suspicions concerning abuse. Risk assessments identified how potential risks should be managed to reduce the likelihood of people experiencing harm. Staff understood the risks to people and delivered safe care in accordance with people’s support plans. There were enough staff to keep people safe and appropriate arrangements were in place for emergency staff cover. Recruitment processes aimed to ensure only suitable staff were selected to work with people.
Each staff member had received induction and training to enable them to meet people’s needs effectively. We saw that supervision meetings for staff were held regularly and staff felt supported by the management to perform their role. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff provided them with care in the least restrictive way possible and acted in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service promoted this practice.
People's care plans were person-centred and focused on what was important to people. Care plans were regularly reviewed and people and their relatives were involved in the reviews. People felt they were treated with kindness and said their privacy and dignity were always respected.
The registered provider had a compliments and complaints policy which was available to people. No complaints had been raised since the service registered in September 2019.
People, their relatives and staff spoke highly of the registered manager; they found them approachable and supportive. Staff were given appropriate responsibility which was continuously monitored and checked by the registered manager. A system to monitor, maintain and improve the quality of the service was in place.
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 11/09/2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information, we may inspect sooner.