First Stop Recruitment Services Limited

Updated 8 January 2019

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 .

The inspection took place on 18 October, 20 and 27 November 2018, was completed by one inspector and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included statutory notifications which provide information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager (who is also the registered provider) and one member of staff. The person who used the service was not able to speak with us so we spoke to their relative instead who provided feedback about the service. We looked at one person's care plan and one staff file containing information on their recruitment and training. We reviewed a number of other documents relating to the management of the service including policies and processes relating to aspects such as safeguarding, handling complaints, incidents and accidents and medicine management.

Updated 8 January 2019

The inspection took place on 18 October, 20 and 27 November 2018 and was announced.

First Stop Recruitment Services Limited provides personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of inspection there was one person using the service.

There was a registered manager of the service who was also the registered provider. 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.

We previously inspected the service in February 2018. At that time the service had not recruited any staff and was only providing care and support to one person so we were unable to provide a rating. At this inspection a staff member had been recruited and there was still just one person using the service. The provider advised us that they were currently in the process of recruiting further staff in order to expand the service and take on more people.

There were systems and processes in place for the safe management of medicines. Staff understood how to protect people from abuse and report concerns to the appropriate authorities. Risks to people had been identified and staff knew what to do to keep people safe.

We made a recommendation that recording practices around risk assessment and management were strengthened.

There were sufficient numbers of staff employed to safely meet the needs of people who used the service. Appropriate systems were in place to ensure that staff were recruited safely.

New staff received an induction and training to support their competence however there were no formal mechanisms in place to provide structure around supervision. Nonetheless, staff told us they felt supported. The registered manager worked alongside staff providing informal supervision and guidance on a daily basis.

We made a recommendation about supervision practices.

People were supported to have enough to eat and drink and maintain their health and wellbeing.

The provider and staff had received training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and were aware of their responsibilities to ensure people were supported to make decisions and give their consent.

People's needs had been holistically assessed taking into account their needs and capabilities. People and their families were included in the assessment process and their views were recorded to ensure they received care and support in the way they wanted.

The provider and staff demonstrated the positive values of dignity, respect and person-centred practice which helped to promote a positive culture.

A complaints policy and procedure was in place to handle complaints appropriately when required.

Plans were in place to ensure that people's views would be sought and acted upon to drive improvements to the service.

The provider understood the requirements of their registration. They were committed to continuous learning and professional development to ensure best practice. Quality assurance audits had been prepared to measure the quality and safety of the service people received.