Archived: Carefocus Healthcare

Carefocus health is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes and flats. At the time of the inspection a limited number of people were receiving personal care from the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People’s initial needs assessment, risk assessments and their management plans were not accurate. For example, about lifting and handling, personal risk assessment, and home internal risk assessment. Care plans were not person-centred and did not provide staff with guidance on how people’s needs should be met. The provider’s quality assurance systems were not effective and spot checks were inaccurate.

The provider did not complete checks and audits on staff recruitment checks, staff training, care plan and risk assessment. Staff were not supported with supervision. The provider carried out background checks for staff before they started working. However, three staff members previous employers’ references were outstanding. We have made a recommendation about some staff recruitment checks. People were supported by effectively deployed staff. People gave us positive feedback about their safety and told us that staff treated them well. People were protected from the risk of infection.

Relatives coordinated people’s health care appointments and health care needs, staff were available to support people to access healthcare appointments if needed.

Staff obtained consent from people prior to providing care to them. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff supported people and showed an understanding of equality and diversity. People told us they had been involved in making decisions about their care and support, they were treated with dignity and their privacy was respected. People were supported to be as independent in their care as possible. Staff communicated with people in the way the understood. People told us they knew how to complain and would do so if necessary.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection. This service was registered with us on 01 August 2018 and this is the first inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvement. Please see the safe, effective, responsive and well-led sections of this full report. You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches of regulations in relation to the provider was not making sure there were proper risk assessments and their management plans. People’s initial needs assessment were not accurate, and their care plans were not person-centred. The provider’s quality assurance systems were not effective and spot checks were inaccurate. Three staff members previous employers’ references were outstanding.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.