Updated 5 August 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.
Service and service type
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 two working days’ 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 29 June and ended on 2 July 2021. We visited the office location on 29 June. We made phone calls to people on 2 July 2021.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service. This information included the last inspection report, feedback we had received about the service and any statutory notifications that the provider had sent to the CQC. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager and nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. Following the visit to the office, we spoke with three care staff, three people using the service, one relative, and received written feedback from one social care professional.
We reviewed a range of records which related to people's individual care and the running of the service. These records included three people's care files, three staff records, policies, medicine administration records and a range of records relating to the management and quality monitoring of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. The registered manager was responsive in providing us with information and documentation to do with the management and running of the service.