We carried out a review of the data available to us about Helping Hands Lincoln 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 Helping Hands Lincoln, you can give feedback on this service.
Helping Hands Lincoln is a domiciliary care agency, providing personal care to people in their own homes. The office is in the centre of Lincoln City. At the time of inspection, 67 people were using the service. 50 people were receiving a regulated activity.
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 families said they felt safe, having carers supporting them in their own home. People said the service had supported them to be independent and remain living at home.
There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. People always received their care calls and were contacted if staff were going to be late. Staff had been recruited safely. Staff had received training in safeguarding and was aware of their responsibilities to report concerns to the local authority. Staff ensured they kept people safe from the risk of infection by wearing appropriate PPE and following infection control practices.
Peoples care needs, risks associated with their care and environmental risks had been assessed and mitigated. Where people needed support with their medicines it was done so safely by suitably trained and competent staff.
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.
New staff to the service received an induction period, with training and shadow shifts with experienced staff.
Where needed staff supported people to maintain a balanced diet. Staff supported people to access health care when required. Including contacting peoples GP and district nurses.
People and their families said that they were treated with dignity and respect by friendly caring staff. People said they were involved in the planning of their care, that assessments carried out prior to receiving care were thorough.
At the time of the inspection nobody was receiving end of life care. However, staff are trained to support people when needed.
Staff said that they felt supported by the registered manager and the office team. They received regular supervision. There is a duty on call to support carers out of hours.
People and their relatives knew who the registered manager was, they said that the registered manager was approachable and acted when issues were raised.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
This service was registered with us on 11/06/2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection following registration.
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.