The Care Quality Commission
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Optimum Care (South) Ltd

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

192 Park Road, Peterborough, PE1 2UF (01733) 971333

Provided and run by:
Optimum Care (South) Ltd

Important: The provider of this service has requested a review of one or more of the ratings.

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Optimum Care (South) Ltd is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people in their own homes. The service provides care to older people, those living with dementia and people with physical disabilities. This assessment started on 13 February 2024 and ended on 26 March 2024. We visited the registered office on 6 March 2024. There were 14 people using the service. This assessment was completed in response to concerns received in relation to the management of the service. The registered manager was absent during the course of this assessment. People were happy with the support they received from staff. They told us they felt safe and that they could raise any concerns they may have. Staff told us they felt supported by the management team and reflected on recent improvements to staff morale at the service. However, we found four breaches of regulation in relation to safeguarding, safe care and treatment, governance and notification of incidents to CQC. The provider had failed to ensure the quality of care was monitored. There was no effective system of governance in place and quality assurance systems were not embedded within the service. This meant gaps in risk assessments and inconsistencies in care plans had not been identified. Risks in relation to choking, pressure wound management, management of specific health conditions and medicine administration were not fully assessed. This meant important information was not available to staff supporting people on a daily basis, which could put them at risk of receiving incorrect or inappropriate care. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

30 March 2022

During a routine inspection

About the service

Optimum Care (South) Ltd is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. The service supports older people some of who were living with dementia, mental health needs, people with a physical disability and people with a sensory impairment. At the time of the inspection, 11 people were using the service. Seven people were receiving the regulated activity of 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 felt safe with the care provided to them. Risks to people's health and safety were assessed and staff knew how to support people to keep them safe. Enough skilled and suitable staff had been recruited. People were supported by a consistent staff team who they felt comfortable with.

People received their medicines as prescribed and were cared for by staff who ensured they followed infection prevention guidance and good practise. The service and its staff team took on board learning when things went wrong. This prompted a review of people's care needs to reduce the risk of any recurrences.

People said staff had the skills necessary to care for them well. Staff had received the required training and ongoing support to help them maintain and improve their care skills to fulfil their role and responsibilities.

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 said staff were caring and knew their needs and preferences well. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and they encouraged and promoted people's independence. Complaints were resolved through the provider’s complaints process. There policies and procedures in place should people require end of life care.

People said they were involved when reviewing their care and felt staff were responsive to their changing needs. The provider was open and transparent and promoted a person-centred culture within the service. People, their relatives and staff thought the service was well managed and responsive to their needs. The provider worked well with other organisations, to provide people with joined up 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 5 November 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the management of the service, staffing, risk management and infection prevention and control practises. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the Safe, Effective and Well-led question sections of this full report.

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.