Background to this inspection
Updated
29 January 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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The service was inspected by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living 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 a short period notice of the inspection because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 20 December 2021 and ended on 10 January 2022. We visited the office location on 31 Dec 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since it registered with CQC and sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people and two relatives of people who use the service about their experiences of the care provided. We received feedback from four members of staff and spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager and managers deputy.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
29 January 2022
About the service
Sunnyside Home Care is a is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. 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. At the time of inspection, the service was providing personal care and support to 6 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and relatives spoke positively about staff and felt safe in their care. The registered manager had a clear vision to support people to live in their own homes with dignity, independence and control over their own lives. Staff had aligned themselves with this vision and a positive culture had been formed. All staff completed a comprehensive induction which also embedded the services vision and Points of Culture (essential workforce attributes to achieve a positive culture).
The registered manager valued continuous learning and development at all levels and supported staff to complete additional qualifications in health and social care. Staff had received safeguarding training and knew how to act on any concerns.
Staff had confidence in their own knowledge and skills, speaking highly of the training provided to them. Staff had been recruited safely following completion of relevant checks. Prescribed medicine was administered by trained staff whose competence was assessed regularly through spot checks and supervisions. Staff were provided appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) which they used effectively to prevent the spread of infection.
Peoples needs and choices were comprehensively assessed and reviewed. Care planning records detailed specific guidance to ensure individualised care could be provided safely. Risks had been identified and were managed by appropriate assessments. People’s nutritional needs were supported effectively, where required. People were also referred to professionals and supported to access healthcare.
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.
People and their relatives consistently told us staff were kind, patient and respectful. Staff told us they were given the time they needed to care for people safely, with respect. People and relatives were impressed with communication from the service. The registered manager had plans in place to improve communication further with technology.
The registered manager advised they have plans to improve End of Life care plans as currently there is limited information in people’s records. Information about how to complain was provided to people and formal processes were in place when required.
Staff promoted independence by taking time to talk and understand what people needed support with, which enabled people to feel in control and remain as independent as possible. Electronic care records reflected this and were detailed in order for staff to support people effectively. Management and staff were very responsive to people's requests. Formal feedback processes to gather and analyse data from staff and people were being developed, with the intent to improve care quality.
Although there were systems in place to monitor the safety and quality of the service provided, these systems and processes were still being modified and developed by the registered manager and support team. It needs to be demonstrated going forward that developments made are embedded and sustained. Nevertheless, the service had management team objectives in place and was keen to drive improvements to quality assurance processes with the aim to maintain high quality care.
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 02/11/2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection because the service had not been inspected or rated.
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.