Background to this inspection
Updated
26 March 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team:
The inspection was carried out by an adult social care inspector.
Service and service type:
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
Not everyone using the service receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.
The service had two managers 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 notice of this inspection visit to be sure that the registered managers would be available.
What we did:
On 26 February 2019 we visited the office location to see the registered managers and staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures.
Before the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service, which included a review of the previous report for this service and a review of notifications they had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.
The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. The PIR also provides data about the organisation and service. We reviewed this information as part of our inspection planning.
At the inspection visit we looked at two people’s care records
We looked at audits and quality assurance reports
We spoke with two members of staff
We spoke with both registered managers.
As the two people who had recently received personal care or were receiving personal care from the service were unable to communicate their opinion by telephone, after the inspection we spoke with their relatives, to seek their views.
We sought feedback from the service’s partner professionals including healthcare, housing and welfare rights staff.
Updated
26 March 2019
About the service:
Southcroft Homecare Team also known as, Southcroft Independence Matters is a domiciliary care service providing re-ablement support and care for disabled adults. Re-ablement is about helping people regain the ability to look after themselves following illness or injury. The service provides care and support for up to 12 weeks, to people living in their own homes. The service aims to help people regain confidence and independence with daily living tasks such as, personal care, medication management and meal preparation. Where appropriate the service helps people to gain access to other services to further support their independence. The service is managed from an office in Ripley and covers the Amber Valley and Erewash districts.
The service is registered to provide personal care. There were 30 people using the service, although not all received personal care. The service was providing personal care to one person at the time of the inspection.
People’s experience of using this service:
A key role of the service was to liaise with other services, such as health and social care services, welfare rights and housing organisations to ensure support was provided to people in a holistic way. People’s relatives told us the service was very good at this. Staff received training and support they said was effective and equipped them for their roles. People were supported in eating a healthy diet and maintaining good health.
We found the provider ensured care was delivered in a safe way. People were protected against the risk of abuse. Staff underwent pre-employment checks to make sure they were of good character and suitable to work with people in their own homes. Risks were assessed and well managed. Staff had received appropriate training in relation to health and safety and the prevention and control of infection. Staff followed protocols for the safe management of medicines.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff told us they received training and support to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to carry out their role effectively. The registered managers fostered a culture of openness and continuous improvement. There was effective communication between staff and managers. Although there was a need to underpin this further, by more regular team meetings and staff supervision.
People received support which was tailored to their needs, delivered by staff who treated them with respect and understood their goals and aspirations. People’s relatives told us they felt the staff were caring, and said their family members received care and support in a way which suited them. Staff exhibited a passion for their roles. People’s feedback was regularly sought, so that they could contribute to ongoing improvements within the service.
More information is in the full report
Rating at last inspection:
At the last inspection the service was rated Good (27/09/2016).
Why we inspected:
All services rated as good are re-inspected within two years of our previous inspection.
This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.