Background to this inspection
Updated
10 August 2022
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector 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.
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. This service is required to have a registered manager.
A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 6 July 2022 when we visited the office location and ended on 20 July 2022 when we completed our calls and reviewing information.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
During the office visit we were supported by the nominated individual and met the registered manager and care co-ordinator. We also spoke with three care staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records, three staff files in relation to recruitment, training and staff supervision. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including spot checks, reviews and supervisions as well as policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We spoke with the management team to validate evidence found. We reviewed updated care records and policies and sought feedback from health and social care professionals.
We spoke with eight relatives and two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided.
Updated
10 August 2022
About the service
Immediate Quality Care (IQC) LTD is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care and support to people living in their own homes. They are registered to provide care to all adults including those who may be living with dementia and have disabilities. At the time of the inspection the service was offering a service to 10 people receiving personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their relatives told us they felt safe and care staff were kind to them.
At the last inspection we found people’s risks had not always been documented, and there were some areas in which the management of the service needed to improve.
At this inspection we found there were improvements and risk assessments were documented, and there were established quality audits, and policies and procedures were in place to manage the service.
Care records were person centred and documented people’s needs, preferences and routines. People were supported by staff who knew them well, and who were rarely late. People’s cultural and religious needs were understood and catered for by staff.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. Mental capacity assessments were completed when a person lacked the capacity to make decisions about their care and treatment.
People and relatives were positive about the service they received from Immediate Quality Care (IQC) Ltd. People and their relatives knew how to raise any concerns they had.
Staff were safely recruited. They understood their role in safeguarding vulnerable adults. Staff received training, supervision and support so they could carry out their caring role. Medicines were safely managed by the service.
Audits of medicines, care records and daily logs took place. There were additional systems to check the quality of care through spot checks and reviews. We found some minor issues with records during the inspection which were addressed immediately.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The service was inspected in January 2021 and was rated Requires Improvement, published 29 January 2021. There were breaches of Regulations 12, safe care and treatment, and 17, governance of the service, at the last inspection.
Why we inspected
The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.