Archived: Hurstwood Court DCA

Updated 24 May 2019

The inspection:

'We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.'

Inspection team:

One inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type:

Hurstwood Court DCA is a domiciliary care service. It provides personal care to people living 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 1 days’ notice of the inspection site visit because we required the registered manager to gain consent from people to contact them for feedback.

We visited the service on the 14 May 2019.

What we did:

Before visiting the service, we looked information sent to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) through notifications. Notifications are information we receive when a significant event happens, like a death or a serious injury. We also looked at information sent to us by the registered manager through the Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR contains information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We reviewed one person's care record, which included care plans, risk assessments, daily care records and medicines records. We looked at documentation that related to staff management and recruitment including four staff files. We also looked at a sample of audits, surveys, minutes of meetings and policies and procedures.

We gathered people’s experiences of the service. We visited and spoke with one person and there relative. We also spoke with the registered manager and the domiciliary care manager.

Updated 24 May 2019

About the service:

Hurstwood Court DCA is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in flats within an assisted living setting. It provides a service to older adults. At the time of the inspection, three people were being supported by the service.

Not everyone using a domiciliary care agency receives regulated activity; the Care Quality Commission (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.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

People's experience of using this service:

There were safeguarding systems and processes that protected people from harm. Staff knew the signs of abuse and what to do if they suspected it. Staff had received training and felt confident to raise any concerns they had.

People received care and support from regular staff who were kind and caring.

People's needs had been fully assessed before they received support from the service.

Care plans contained sufficient detail for staff to offer support that reflected people's individual needs and preferences. Care plans were reviewed regularly and updated as required. Staff understood the needs of the people they supported and had developed positive relationships.

Safe recruitment practices were in place and people were supported by staff that had undertaken a thorough induction process and training relevant to their roles. Enough staff were employed to meet the needs of the people using the service. Staff were supported through regular supervision and team meetings.

Risks to people had been identified and staff had clear guidance available to them to support people and reduce the risk.

Medicines were managed safely by trained and competent staff. Medication policies and best practice guidance was available to all staff. Medication administration records (MARs) were fully completed and audited regularly.

Staff had undertaken infection control training and understood actions required to minimise the risk of infection being spread. They had access to personal protective equipment (PPE).

People's independence was promoted and their right to privacy and dignity respected.

The registered provider complied with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. Staff understood and respected people's right to make their own decisions where possible and encouraged people to make decisions about the care they received.

Lessons were learnt when things went wrong and systems were improved if needed. The management team were responsive and approachable to people that used the service and to the staff. The registered manager had a clear understanding of their responsibilities of their registration with us.

Rating at last inspection:

The service was rated Good at the last inspection on 11 October 2016 (report published 14 November 2016).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk