Archived: Briarcare Recruitment Agency Ltd

Updated 27 July 2017

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 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.

This announced inspection took place on 27 June 2017 and was undertaken by two inspectors. The provider was given notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to know that someone would be available.

Before our inspection 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

We spoke with seven people who used the service and the relatives of five people on the telephone. We also spoke with the registered manager, the office manager and three care workers, one of these was also a field care supervisor. We looked at records in relation to 10 people’s care. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service, six recruitment files, training, and systems for monitoring the quality of the service. We also received feedback about the service from the local authority.

Updated 27 July 2017

Briarcare Recruitment Agency Ltd provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes. On the day of our inspection on 27 June 2017 there were 54 people using the personal care service. This was an announced inspection. The provider was given notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to know that someone would be available.

There was 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 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.

At our last inspection of 3 and 8 November 2016 this service was rated as inadequate and placed in Special Measures by CQC. Services that are in Special Measures are kept under review and inspected again within six months. We expect services to make significant improvements within this timeframe. During this inspection the service demonstrated to us that improvements have been made and is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is now out of Special Measures.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Briarcare Recruitment Agency Ltd on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Improvements had been made in how the service provided safe care to the people who used the service. The service's medicines policy had been reviewed and updated. Systems were now in place to guide staff on the support that people required with their medicines. Systems had been improved in how staff had recorded when people had been assisted to take their medicines. Risk assessments were now in place which guided care workers on how the risks to people, relating to their specific conditions, falls and risks associated with people’s homes.

Improvements had been made in how the service notified us of incidents which they were required to do by law. The registered manager had updated themselves on notifiable incidents, and since our last inspection we had received notifications from the service as required.

Improvements had been made in how the service recorded care worker induction and shadow shifts. Training in the Mental Capacity Act 2015 had now been provided to care workers and care records included information about how people consented to their care.

People’s care records had improved and clear guidance was provided to care workers in how people’s individual needs and preferences were met. This related to the person centred care they required and preferred, including relating to their dietary requirements and independence. People told us that they were involved in the planning of their care.

Improvements had been made in how the service monitored and assessed the service provided. This included spot checks on care workers and asking for people’s views about the service they were provided with. The service had purchased a computerised system which assisted them in the monitoring of the service including, missed and late visits. This was not yet fully implemented and embedded in practice. However, the provider told us about the plans for the future to further improve.

There were systems in place which provided guidance for care workers on how to safeguard the people who used the service from the potential risk of abuse. Care workers understood their roles and responsibilities in keeping people safe.

Care workers were available to ensure that planned visits to people were completed. There were systems in place to recruit care workers safely. Care workers had good relationships with people who used the service.

Where required, people were provided support to access health care professionals.

There was a complaints procedure in place and people’s concerns were addressed in a timely manner.