Triple Home Care Ltd

Updated 21 April 2021

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection to check whether the provider had met the requirements of the specific concern we had about infection prevention and control and, staff training and support, staffing level. We will assess all of the key questions at the next comprehensive inspection of the service.

Inspection team

This inspection was undertaken by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. One inspector did not visit the site office but asked for information and various records.

Service and service type

Triple Home Care Ltd is a domiciliary (home care) care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. Triple Home Care Ltd provides a service to older people, people who misuse drugs or alcohol, younger adults, older people, people living with dementia, people with a physical disability and people with sensory impairments or mental health needs. Not everyone using Triple Home Care Ltd receives the regulated activity of personal care. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with personal care, help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

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

This inspection was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice. This was to ensure we only spoke with people and relatives who had mental capacity to understand our questions. We also needed to be sure the registered manager or nominated individual was in.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We looked at information we had requested from the provider prior to the inspection site visit and this information was used as part of the inspection plan.

During the inspection

We spoke with 14 people, 11 relatives of people who used the service and seven members of staff including the registered manager. We looked at staff training records, infection prevention and control processes, audits how staff were supported to safely wear protective equipment and clothing and, records relating to people's care needs. We also looked at records relating to infection prevention and control including audits, usage of PPE, staff training as well as three people's care plans around hygiene and personal care and moving and handling. A member of staff explained and showed us the provider’s electronic care rostering and care visit monitoring system.

After the inspection

We asked for people's care and support records for clarification about the support people needed.

Updated 21 April 2021

Triple Home Care Ltd is a domiciliary care agency and it is registered to provide a personal care service to people living in their own home. At the time of our inspection there were 37 people using the service. The agency provides care to people living in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough areas. Their head office is located in the town of Huntingdon.

This announced comprehensive inspection was undertaken by one inspector and an expert by experience and took place on 20 September 2017. At the previous inspection on 29 April 2015 the service was rated as ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the service remained 'Good'.

A registered manager was in post at the time of the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 had been trained about keeping people safe from harm and the risk of this occurring. Staff knew the correct procedures to follow should they need to report any concerns they may have had about people's safety.

Accidents and incidents such as falls, injuries and medicines administration were effectively acted upon when required. Only staff who had been deemed suitable to work with people using the service were employed. This was following a robust recruitment process.

People were supported with the safe management and administration of their prescribed medicines by staff who had been trained and deemed competent to do this.

People were supported to stay safe with the effective use of risk assessments such as those for moving and handling requirements.

People's needs were met by a sufficient number of competent staff who had the right skills to provide people with support when they needed it.

Staff continued to have received appropriate training, support and development to carry out their role to the best of their abilities.

People were effectively supported with their health, care, and nutritional needs. Staff supported people to access external health care professionals promptly.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were treated with kindness, dignity and compassion by staff who respected people's right to privacy.

People were given many opportunities to feed back on the service and their views were acted on promptly and effectively. This made a positive difference to the lives people led.

People were offered and took an active part in a wide variety of interests and pastimes that were available. People's needs were responded to in a person centred way and as a result people led a more meaningful life.

The registered manager had created an inclusive atmosphere within the service and this had fostered an open and honest staff team culture.

Audit and effective quality assurance systems and procedures were in place and this helped identify the potential for shortfalls. Timely actions were then taken to improve the quality and standard of service that was provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.