Background to this inspection
Updated
11 June 2019
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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team: One adult social care inspector.
Service and service type: This is a domiciliary care service. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
The service had a manager who had worked at the service for almost three weeks at the time of our inspection. They told us they were going to apply to the Care Quality Commission to become a registered manager. 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 visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.
Inspection site visit activity started on 01 May 2019 and ended on 10 May 2019. We visited the office location on 01 May 2019 to see the manager and office staff and some care staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures.
What we did;
Before inspection:
• Our inspection was informed by evidence we already held about the service. We also checked for feedback we received from members of the public and local authorities. We also checked records held by Companies House.
During inspection:
• We spoke with two people who used the service and six relatives.
• We spoke with the manager, senior care co-ordinator, senior carer and five carers. We looked at three people’s care records and other records that related to people’s care such as medication records, audits and other records about the management of the service.
After inspection: We spoke with the provider and the manager.
Updated
11 June 2019
About the service: A&M Bewdley Care Services is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to older adults, younger adults, physical disability, sensory impairment, mental health and dementia. At the time of our inspection, 66 people were using the service.
Not everyone using A&M Bewdley Care Services receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.
Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated Good. The report was published 09 December 2016.
Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating.
People’s experience of using this service:
¿ People continued to tell us they felt safe and well supported.
¿ Staff had a good understanding in how they protected people from harm and recognised different types of abuse and how to report it.
¿ Potential risks to people had not always been identified, assessed and monitored. The manager was aware of this had was implementing new procedures to better manage and record this.
¿ There were enough staff on duty to keep people safe and meet their needs.
¿ The provider did not always follow safe protocols for the administration of medicines.
¿ Safe practice was carried out to reduce the risk of infection.
¿ People’s care continued to be assessed and reviewed with the person involved throughout.
¿ People were supported to have a healthy balanced diet and were given food they enjoyed.
¿ 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 support this practice.
¿ Staff worked with external healthcare professionals and followed their guidance and advice about how to support people following best practice.
¿ Staff treated people as individuals and respected the choices they made.
¿ People’s care was delivered in line with their preferences, with any changes in care being communicated clearly to the staff team.
¿ Staff supported people with their end of life care.
¿ People had access to information about how to raise a complaint, where complaints had been received the provider had managed these in line with their policy.
¿ The provider was not meeting the legal requirement to have a registered manager in place.
¿ The manager and provider were aware of the shortfalls and had plans in place to improve these.
¿ The provider made to ensure the service was meeting people’s needs and focused upon people’s views and experiences.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. Further inspections will be planned for future dates.