Rhythmic Care UK Ltd

Updated 26 July 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 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 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.

The inspection took place on 13 June 2018. This was an announced inspection, which meant the registered provider knew we would be visiting. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice. This was because it was a domiciliary care agency and we wanted to make sure that the registered manager, or someone who could act on their behalf, would be available to support us with our inspection. The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an expert by experience, who made telephone calls to people who used the service. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service and provider. We looked at any complaints we received and statutory notifications sent to us by the provider. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We also contacted health and social care commissioners for their feedback on the service.

During the inspection, we spoke with the registered manager, a consultant, a service manager, a data manager and two care staff. We spoke with ten people who used the service and six relatives.

We looked at twelve people’s care records and other records relating to the management of the service. This included seven staff recruitment records, training documents, rotas, accident and incident records, complaints, health and safety information, quality monitoring and medicine records.

Updated 26 July 2018

This inspection took place on 13 June 2018 and was announced. We last inspected this service in 16 May 2016 and we rated the service ‘Good’. After that inspection we received concerns in relation to the safety and quality of the service.

We looked into these concerns at this inspection. We found that the service remained Good.

Rhythmic Care UK is based in Ilford, Essex. This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to older adults.

Not everyone using Rhythmic Care receives regulated activity; the 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.

At the time of our inspection, 192 people were using the service, who received personal care.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered care homes, 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.

The registered manager and senior managers carried out monitoring checks on staff providing care in people’s homes. This ensured staff followed the correct procedures and people received the care they had been assessed for. At our previous inspection in May 2016, we recommended that the provider ensured all staff clearly presented their identification to people. At this inspection people told us that staff still did not always carry identification when they entered their homes. This meant the provider’s quality assurance processes were not always robust.

Complaints about the service were responded to appropriately. However, we have made a recommendation for the provider to ensure people had access to a clearer and more effective complaints procedure. This was because people were not using the provider’s own procedures to make complaints.

Risks to people, such as falls, were assessed and staff had comprehensive information to identify and manage and reduce these risks.

People were protected from abuse. Staff understood procedures to follow in order to safeguard people from potential abuse.

The provider had sufficient numbers of staff available to provide care and support to people. Staff had been recruited following pre-employment checks such as criminal background checks, to ensure staff were suitable to work with people safely.

Staff received an induction and relevant training. They shadowed experienced staff in order for them to carry out their roles effectively.

When required, staff prompted people to take their medicines and recorded this in Medicine Administration Records (MAR).

Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and people’s capacity to make decisions was assessed when required.

Staff told us that they received support and guidance from the management team. People's care and support needs were assessed and reviewed regularly.

People were registered with health care professionals, such as GPs and staff contacted them in emergencies.

People were supported to have meals and drinks of their choice, when this was requested.

People were involved in their care and support planning. They were treated with dignity and respect when personal care was provided to them.

Care plans provided staff with information about each person’s individual preferences.