Archived: PnS Domiciliary Services

Updated 12 February 2016

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 inspection took place on 13 January 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service, we needed to be sure that someone would be in. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

We reviewed information we held about the service, such as information sent to us from other stakeholders for example the local authority.

We visited three people in their homes and spoke with these people and two relatives. We also spoke with four people who used the service, the relatives of four people and a local authority professional on the telephone.

We spoke with the provider, the manager and four care workers. We looked at records in relation to three people’s care. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service, recruitment, training, and systems for monitoring the quality of the service.

Updated 12 February 2016

PnS Domiciliary Services provides personal care support to people living in their own homes. When we inspected on 13 January 2016 there were 19 people receiving the personal care service. This was an announced inspection. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to know that someone would be available.

There was not a registered manager in post. 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.

Improvements were needed in the systems to minimise the risks to people’s safety. Where people required assistance to take their medicines this was done in a way that suited people. The systems in place to guide staff and ensure people’s safety associated with their medicines were in the process of being improved.

There were sufficient numbers of care workers to meet the needs of the people who used the service. Recruitment checks ensured that care workers were suitable to support the people who used the service.

Care workers were not provided with the training that they needed to meet people’s needs effectively.

Where people required assistance with their dietary needs there were systems in place to provide this support safely. Where care workers had identified concerns in people’s wellbeing there were systems in place to contact health and social care professionals to make sure they received appropriate care and treatment.

Care workers had good relationships with people who used the service. People’s consent was sought before they were provided with care and support.

People or their representatives, where appropriate, were involved in making decisions about their care and support. People received care and support which was planned and delivered to meet their specific needs. The provider was in the process of reviewing and updating their care planning processes.

A complaints procedure was in place. People’s concerns and complaints were listened to, addressed and used to improve the service.

The service had an open and empowering culture. Care workers understood their roles and responsibilities in providing safe and good quality care to the people who used the service. The service did not have a quality assurance system in place. The provider understood the shortfalls and were in the process of addressing these to improve the service.