Background to this inspection
Updated
13 December 2022
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and an Expert 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.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post. The registered manager was also the nominated individual for the service. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
Inspection activity started on 15 November 2022 and ended on 29 November 2022. We visited the location’s office on 24 November 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We also contacted Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 6 relatives and 4 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager who is also the nominated individual for the service, the care co-ordinator and 7 care staff. We reviewed records relating to the running of the service and 3 people’s care and medication records. We reviewed 3 staff files in relation to recruitment, training and supervision.
Updated
13 December 2022
About the service
SureCare Calderdale and Kirklees is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes and flats. At the time of our inspection they were supporting 34 people. 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
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.
There were safe systems of recruitment in place. There were enough staff available to meet people’s needs. Medicines were managed safely. Staff received safeguarding training and knew what to do if they thought someone was at risk. Risks to people and the environment in which they received their care were identified and well managed. People’s needs were assessed, and clear risk assessments were in place to guide staff.
Everybody we spoke with said they, or their relative, felt safe. One person who used the service said, “I am very happy and feel safe with my carers.” A relative said, “They are on time and have never let us down there have been no missed calls.”
Accidents and incidents were managed well, and people’s relatives told us they were kept informed, where appropriate, of any concerns about their family member.
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 at the service supported this practice.
People’s care needs were assessed and person centred care plans developed. People and their relatives told us they were involved in this process. Staff said the training they received supported them in their roles.
Most people spoke very positively about the care they received and felt staff were respectful and kind. One person said, “The carers are like family to me, they are the best of the best, they really treat me well”.
People’s communication needs were met. people told us about staff supported them to access healthcare professionals when needed.
People said the service was well led. We found systems to assess, monitor and improve the service were established and effective. Complaints were well managed. The provider had good oversight of the service and demonstrated passion and commitment to the continued development of the service
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
The service was registered with us on 29 September 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.