We carried out a review of the data available to us about Home Instead on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Home Instead, you can give feedback on this service.
Home Instead is a domiciliary care agency (DCA). The service provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. At the time of our inspection 30 people were using the service, some of whom were living with the experience of dementia.
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 and their relatives were complimentary about the service. People told us they would recommend the service to others because it was well-led. The management and leaders were passionate about providing an innovative and excellent service. Care and support was ‘person centred’ and the management team supported, motivated and appreciated staff. The service had established good links in the community and had partnered with key organisations including charitable organisations in giving back to the local community. The service operated with a positive atmosphere, and an inclusive and open culture which encouraged people and their relatives to feedback on the standard of care provided.
People received care and support which was safe and personalised to their needs. Staff understood their responsibility to protect people in their care from abuse and neglect, and to report any concerns they had. Risks to people had been identified, assessed and appropriate management plans were in place which provided staff with guidance on how to mitigate risks. Medicines were managed safely, and staff followed appropriate infection control procedures to minimise the risk of infections to the people they supported. Enough staff were available and deployed to meet people's needs.
A comprehensive needs assessment was carried out to ensure people’s needs could be met. People were supported by staff who had been supported through induction, training, supervision and an annual appraisal. They were supported to maintain good health; eat healthily and access healthcare services when required. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were supported by staff who were kind and caring, respected their privacy and dignity, and promoted their independence. They were empowered to make day-to-day decisions for themselves and to make their own choices about how they would like to live their lives. Staff understood the Equality Act 2010 and applied this to the way they worked.
People and their relatives knew how to make a complaint if they were unhappy and told us their concerns and complaints were addressed promptly. People’s communication needs had been assessed and met. People were supported to maintain and develop relationships with those important to them to minimise the risk of social isolation. The service encouraged people to be engaged in social and leisure activities to keep them stimulated.
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 17 October 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on when the service was registered.
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.