Archived: C F Social Work Limited

Updated 3 March 2022

The inspection

We carried out this performance review and assessment under Section 46 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act). We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements of the regulations associated with the Act and looked at the quality of the service to provide a rating.

Unlike our standard approach to assessing performance, we did not physically visit the office of the location. This is a new approach we have introduced to reviewing and assessing performance of some care at home providers. Instead of visiting the office location we use technology such as electronic file sharing and video or phone calls to engage with people using the service and staff.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by an inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care and support to children who live with their families 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 48 hours’ 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 available to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 4 February 2022 and ended on 21 February 2022.

What we did before inspection.

We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We reviewed our systems and information we held about the service. 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 took all this information into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

This performance review and assessment was carried out without a visit to the location’s office. We used technology such as video calls to enable us to engage with people using the service and staff, and electronic file sharing to enable us to review documentation.

Inspection activity took place on 4, 8, 9, 16, and 21 February 2022. During this time, we reviewed records securely sent to us by the service including the care records of one child who was receiving personal care and records relating to staff recruitment, training, complaints, policies and procedures and audits.

We spoke with the registered manager, and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We spoke with three members of staff and received electronic feedback from one relative, four members of staff and two professionals who work with the service.

Updated 3 March 2022

About the service

C F Social Work Limited is registered with the Care Quality Commission as a domiciliary care agency providing a service to children living in their own homes. Primarily they provide social work assessment and support services to children and families. However, on occasion they can support children with personal care.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to eating and with personal hygiene for example nappy changing and toilet training. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection there was 12 children using the service but only one child who was being supported with personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The service worked in partnership with children, families and other professionals to achieve individualised, person-centred care. Feedback about the care and support C F Social Work Limited provided to people was complimentary.

Staff treated children, young people and their families with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity and took account of their individual needs. Where needed staff provided emotional support to children, young people and their families.

Staff understood how to protect people from potential harm, and managed safety well. Risks associated with people’s care was well managed, and in line with legislative requirements and recognised best practice guidelines. The leadership team managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.

People were supported by a staff team who were safely recruited,trained and supported in their role. Staff spoke positively about the leadership and management of the service.

People received continuity of care; visits were at the times they expected, for the length of time agreed and from staff they knew.

Staff followed good infection prevention and control practices to keep people and themselves safe. Systems were in place for the safe management of medicines.

The care records were detailed and person centred, they promoted choice and guided staff on how to support individuals safely and encourage their independence. These were assessed regularly and updated accordingly when needs changed.

Staff understood the importance of gaining consent from people. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service were in place. Quality monitoring systems allowed for effective monitoring of the service by the provider.

This was an ‘inspection using remote technology’. This means we did not visit the office location and instead used technology such as electronic file sharing to gather information, and video and phone calls to engage with people using the service as part of this performance review and assessment.

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 20 October 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This service had not previously been inspected and we wanted to check that people were receiving safe care and support.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service using our monitoring system and will inspect when this is indicated.