Background to this inspection
Updated
6 October 2021
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This is inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
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 a short notice period of the inspection. This was to ensure we and the provider could manage the risks of COVID-19. Inspection activity started on 19 July 2021 and ended on 5 August 2021. We visited the office location on 19 and 28 July 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority quality and safeguarding teams and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with two people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, the senior carer and four care staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at mental capacity assessments and best interest meetings.
Updated
6 October 2021
About the service
FARJ services Ltd is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of the inspection they were supporting 26 people.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were not consistently protected from the risk of infection because not all staff were tested for COVID-19 as per government guidance. Staff had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) which was used appropriately.
Systems and processes in place were not always effective in ensuring the service had the most up to date guidance and best practice information.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Improvement was required in the recording of mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions.
People were supported by staff who knew them well, had adequate training and were recruited safely.
Care plans and risk assessments were detailed and included the person’s holistic needs. People’s likes/dislikes, routines and history was documented. People and significant others were involved in the care planning process.
Staff were supported by managers who were open and transparent. Staff felt supported and told us they could give feedback or suggestions to the registered manager and their views would be listened to.
People were supported with dignity and respect and were encouraged to be as independent as possible.
Medicines were managed and administered safely. Staff supported people to make and attend health appointments. The staff team worked closely with external professionals to ensure people’s health needs were met.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 1 April 2020).
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about late calls and moving and handling. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this report.
The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Farj services Ltd on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.