Background to this inspection
Updated
19 December 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. 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 inspection was carried out by one inspector, two assistant 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.
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 in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 4 November 2019 and ended on 6 November 2019. We visited the office location on 5 November 2019.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we held about the service including feedback received by CQC and statutory notifications the provider had sent to us. Statutory notifications are reports of important events, such as deaths or injuries, which providers are required by law to tell us about. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people and three relatives. We spoke with the registered manager, a care co-ordinator and five care staff.
We reviewed care plans for six people including records related to medicines risk and personalised care planning. We looked at three staff files, including recruitment checks and records related to staff training. We looked at a variety of checks and audits and records of staff meetings and communications.
Updated
19 December 2019
About the service
Homelife Care Limited Crowborough is a homecare agency providing hourly support to people within their own homes. At the time of the inspection 68 people were receiving 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 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 told us they felt safe with staff and received care at the times they expected to. Staff were knowledgeable about how to reduce risks and how to respond if they suspected any abuse occurred. People received their medicines safely and staff followed best practice in relation to infection control.
People received an assessment before they received care and staff worked alongside healthcare professionals, changes in people’s health were shared with healthcare professionals in a timely manner. People told us staff prepared foods for them in line with their preferences and dietary needs and people had care plans in place for nutrition. 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’s feedback about staff was positive and we saw examples of staff taking action to promote people’s wellbeing and make them feel good. Care was delivered in a way that encouraged people to be independent and staff were knowledgeable about how to do this. People said staff were respectful when entering their homes and they received care in a dignified way.
Care was planned and delivered in a personalised way and care plans were frequently reviewed. People were supported to engage in activities in their communities and staff found ways to reduce isolation for people. People knew how to complain, and any issues raised with the provider had been logged and responded to.
People and staff spoke positively about the management of the service. There were systems in place to monitor and assure the quality of the care people received. Staff were recognised for good practice and there were systems to ensure important information was communicated to staff. The service worked with external agencies to ensure people received holistic care.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 17 January 2017)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.