Background to this inspection
Updated
12 October 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 conducted by one inspector 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 the community 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 in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 28 August 2019 and ended on 25 September 2019. We visited the office location on 28 August 2019.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed the information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority in whose area the service is provided. 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 five people who used the service, to ask about their experience of the care provided, and four relatives of people who used the service. We also spoke with the registered manager, the manager and four members of staff who deliver the service.
We reviewed a range of records about people’s care and how the service was managed. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two 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
12 October 2019
About the service
Newbury Care Services is a domiciliary care service, registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection the service was providing personal care to 18 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
People and their relatives were very positive about the care provided. People were cared for by staff who knew how to keep them safe and protect them from avoidable harm. People received their medicines as prescribed and systems were in place for the safe management and supply of medicines. There was a range of risk assessments in place. Incidents and accidents were investigated, and actions were taken to prevent recurrence. Staff followed infection control and prevention procedures.
The service continued to be effective. People’s needs were assessed, and care was planned and delivered to meet people’s needs, legislation and good practice guidance. Care was delivered by staff that were safely recruited, well trained and knowledgeable about people’s needs. Peoples nutrition and hydration needs were met.
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.
Staff were knowledgeable of the people they supported and were responsive to their individual needs and choices. People were cared for by staff that were kind and compassionate, maintaining their privacy and treating them with dignity and respect. People and their relatives were included and supported to take decisions about how their needs were met.
People’s views and concerns were listened to and there was a range of ways for people to give feedback.
The service was well led. Systems were in place to monitor the quality of care provided and to promote the continuous improvement of the service. The management and staff worked in partnership with external health care providers and community services and developed positive relationships, to benefit people’s health and wellbeing.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 3 March 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.