This inspection took place on 7 January 2016 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice that we would be visiting the service. This was because we wanted to make sure staff would be available to answer any questions we had or provide information that we needed. We also wanted the registered manager to ask people who used the service if we could contact them.
The service is registered to provide personal care and support to people in their own homes. People who use the service may need support or care due to old age, dementia, learning disability, physical disability or sensory impairment. At the time of the inspection the service was providing support and personal care to 14 people in their own homes. This was the first inspection of this service.
There was a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People told us that they felt safe when staff entered their home and that staff knew how to support them. Staff were aware of how to keep people safe and were aware of the risks to people.
People usually received their care on time and told us if staff were running late they were usually notified of this.
Appropriate recruitment processes were in place in order to reduce the risk of unsuitable people being employed by the service.
Staff were provided with the training and information required in order to support people to take their medicines safely.
Staff knew people’s healthcare needs and supported them to access their GP or other healthcare services if they were feeling unwell.
Staff understood the importance of obtaining people’s consent prior to supporting them but had a limited understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
People told us that they were supported by staff who were kind and caring and went out of their way to help them.
People were involved in the development of their care plans to ensure that they received their care in the way they wanted. Arrangements were made for staff to be introduced to people prior to them providing care and support.
People told us they had not had to raise any concerns or complaints but if they did, they knew who to speak to and were confident that they would be dealt with appropriately.
People spoke positively about the service they received and the staff who supported them.
Staff were well supported in their role and felt able to approach management with any issues or concerns.
There were a number of audits in place to assess the quality of the service provided.