Footcare Service

Updated 25 September 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 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 was a comprehensive inspection which took place on 31 August 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location was a domiciliary care agency. We needed to be sure they would be in.

This inspection was conducted by one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form the provider completes to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. The provider returned the PIR within the agreed timeframe and we took the information provided into account when we made the judgements in this report.

In preparation for our inspection we gathered feedback from health and social care professionals who visited the service. We also reviewed the information we held about the service and the provider. This included any feedback from people and the previous inspection report.

After our inspection visit, we spoke with four people who used the service and three members of staff shared their views with us via email. At the office we spoke to a team leader, operation’s director and the registered manager.

We looked at a range of documents and written records including three people's treatment records, one staff recruitment file and staff training records. We also looked at a sample of policies and procedures, staff meeting minutes and records relating to the auditing and monitoring of service provision.

Updated 25 September 2018

This inspection took place on 31 August 2018.

Footcare Service is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people in their own homes and in community clinics. The personal care provided by this service is limited to footcare. The footcare service is provided to over 500 people in the Chorley and West Lancashire areas, under the supervision of an NHS Podiatrist.

People received the service in their own homes and some attended one of the community clinics the service offers in community buildings.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People who used the service told us they felt safe when staff members were in their homes. Staff had received training in safeguarding and knew their responsibilities to report any concerns. The service also had whistleblowing and lone working policies in place.

Risk assessments were in place to keep people safe. These were reviewed and updated regularly or when changes occurred.

Recruitment systems and processes in place were robust. We saw references, identity checks and Disclosure and Barring Service checks were completed before staff were employed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

New staff members were expected to complete an induction when they commenced employment. Their competence was checked regularly by a NHS podiatrist. Training courses were available to staff which were relevant to their roles. Staff members told us, and records confirmed, that staff members received supervision and appraisals on a regular basis. All staff members told us they were able to discuss any training requirements they had.

Feedback provided by people showed that staff were kind, caring and supportive of people who used the service.

The service delivered person centred care. We saw person centred care plans were in place and reviewed regularly.

The service had a complaint’s procedure in place. No complaints had been received since our last inspection.

Accidents and incidents were reported to management. This meant they were able to see if appropriate action had been taken by staff to ensure people were kept safe.

The registered manager had processes and systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service.

We saw regular staff meetings were also held. Staff told us these were regular and they were able to bring up topics for discussion.

The service was meeting all relevant fundamental standards.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.