6 November 2017
During a routine inspection
Firstpoint Homecare Limited is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. Firstpoint Homecare Limited also provides support to people on a daily basis that includes staff living with the person in their own home. The support is provided by means of set hours. For example nine till five each day and then another member of staff would remain overnight to support the person. At the time of the inspection the service supported 39 people ranging in age, gender, ethnicity and disability.
There was a registered manager in post at the time of the inspection. 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.
Staff felt supported and spoke highly of the management team and felt involved in developing the service. The provider had quality assurance and audit systems in place to monitor the care and support people received. Although not all the systems were effective and required improvement.
People felt they were safe and their homes left secured after staff had completed their visits. Relatives believed their family members were kept safe. Staff understood the different types of abuse and knew what action they would take if they thought a person was at risk of harm. Risks to people were assessed and monitored and people were supported by staff that was provided with guidance on how to manage people’s specific medical conditions. The provider had processes and systems in place that kept people safe and protected them from the risk of harm.
People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff that had been safely recruited although their recruitment processes required some improvement. People were supported with their medication by staff that had received appropriate training. Staff were equipped with sufficient personal protection equipment to reduce the risk of infection and cross contamination when supporting people with their personal care.
People’s needs were assessed by a qualified nurse to ensure the care and treatment provided was individual to the person. People were supported by staff that felt they had the skills and knowledge to care and support people in their homes. Where appropriate, people were supported by staff to access health and social care professionals; with timely referrals made to healthcare services when people’s needs changed.
People were supported to make choices and involved in the care and support they received. The provider was taking the appropriate action to protect people’s rights.
People told us staff members were caring and treated them with dignity and respect. People’s choices and independence was respected and promoted and staff responded to people’s support needs. People were supported with their healthcare needs and felt involved with their care provision.
People felt they could speak with the provider about their worries or concerns and most felt they would be listened to and have their concerns addressed.
People felt reassured the provider would ensure their personal preferences and choices were respected at the end of their life to ensure a comfortable, dignified and pain free death.