Simply Carers LTD received a Good rating across all five key questions at its first CQC inspection in May 2022, with people and relatives consistently reporting kind, person-centred care and a responsive management team. Minor concerns were noted around occasional late visits and inconsistent medicines recording, with a new electronic monitoring system already implemented to address punctuality.
Concerns (4)
moderate
Missed or late visits
: “Timing is an issue especially with lateness. They are regularly half-an-hour to an hour late. We asked them to ring us and let us know, but they don't”
minorMedication management: “They don't write up what I have been given and I don't recall ever having a chart for them to record medication on”
minorStaff competency: “Some people expressed concern about the standard of some carers' ability to speak or write English.”
minorPerson-centred care: “A relative told us they had asked for female care staff, but male care staff had arrived on a couple of occasions.”
Strengths
· People and relatives felt safe and praised staff as kind, caring and well-trained
· Risks were identified, assessed and documented in care plans with clear guidance for staff
· Safe recruitment procedures in place including DBS checks and reference verification
· Electronic MAR system implemented from November 2021 providing office oversight of medicines administration
· Staff demonstrated good understanding of safeguarding, MCA and infection control
Quality-Statement breakdown (23)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawGood
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely careGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferencesGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Supporting people to develop and maintain relationships to avoid social isolationGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving careGood