27 June 2017
During a routine inspection
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.