We considered our inspection findings to answer questions we always ask; ' Is the service safe?
' Is the service effective?
' Is the service caring?
' Is the service responsive?
' Is the service well-led?
This is a summary of what we found.
Winspear Garth (Home Instead) is a Domiciliary Care Service (DCA). The agency were providing support and care to people living in their own homes.
At the time of our inspection, the agency was providing a service to 19 people and they employed twelve Caregivers (care workers).
Is the service safe?
We saw that people had been cared for in their own homes and the service had checked if this was safe, clean and hygienic. We were told by people using the service that the staff arrived on time and stayed for the correct amount of time.
We visited two people in their own homes, some of their comments were, 'It's better than I thought it would be', 'I look forward to the carer coming' and 'I am always respected and treated with dignity'. We reviewed records which demonstrated that there were sufficient staff available to meet people's needs.
Is the service effective?
People who used the service told us they were happy with the care that had been provided. Some of the comments were, 'I always get my correct amount of time' and 'The carer will do anything I ask, couldn't be any better'. We spoke with two members of staff when we visited the people in their own homes and they had a clear understanding of people's needs and how to meet them.
We found that staff training was consistent, with appropriate and relevant training being provided. We saw that supervision of staff was regularly provided. This meant the provider could demonstrate that the staff employed to work for the service had the training and support to meet people's needs.
Is the service caring?
The staff we spoke with during our inspection gave good examples of how they supported people in a caring and sensitive manner. Staff expressed how they felt enthusiastic about caring for people. Some of the comments were, 'I love doing care work, over 16 years now' and 'I wish I had come into this work years ago, absolutely love it'.
People we visited told us, 'She's (carer) the best, couldn't wish for anyone better' and 'My life is much better since the carer has been coming to me. We get on very well'.
Is the service responsive?
We saw that people's needs were assessed before they were offered a service; this was to make sure the agency could meet people's needs. Care plans contained detailed and informative background and social history for people using the service. The care plans were person centred and individualised.
One person we visited said, 'The manager visited me yesterday; she visits me fairly regularly and asks how things are going'.
Is the service well-led?
The agency provided a quality monitoring form to the people using the service, on a monthly basis. This was to obtain people's opinions and views of the service they had received. This meant that the provider would be able to ascertain people's opinions and views, which could positively change the service delivery.
Some of the comments from people using the service were, 'No I have never complained, but I would know what to do if I needed to complain about anything', 'I would recommend them to everyone' and 'They are lovely and very good at understanding my needs'. Some of the staff comments were, 'Its good working for them' and' The manager is brilliant and very supportive'.