Belmont Homecare Services received an overall Good rating at its first inspection in January 2023, with all five key questions rated Good. Minor gaps were identified in risk assessment detail, medication protocols, care plan specificity and recruitment oversight, all of which the registered manager began addressing promptly during the inspection.
Concerns (5)
moderate
Governance
: “The provider had not always had good oversight of the service...The registered manager used an electronic system for auditing, but this did not have enough detail to support quality improvement.”
minorCare planning: “we found some instances where risk assessments did not always contain enough detail. For example, use of a profile bed. The risk assessment did not detail how this should be adjusted”
minorMedication management: “For one person staff were applying prescribed moisturising skin creams but no protocol was in place for staff to know how these should be applied.”
minorRecord keeping: “Some care plans needed to provide more detail about people's preferences. Staff knew people very well...and this meant less detail had been put into the plans.”
minorStaff competency: “when the registered manager had taken on staff they knew from a previous role they had failed to get a previous employers reference for these individuals because they knew them.”
Strengths
· People and relatives were overwhelmingly positive about the care provided, describing it as personalised, timely and never rushed.
· Staff were skilled, well-trained and supported, with a detailed induction process and regular spot checks of practice.
· Strong continuity of care with people regularly seeing the same staff, supporting safety and relationship-building.
· Effective communication with people and relatives, including regular feedback calls starting within 24 hours of the first visit.
· Positive workplace culture with staff feeling well supported, listened to and able to raise concerns with an approachable management team.
Quality-Statement breakdown (20)
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and management; Learning lessons when things go wrongNot rated
safe: Staffing and recruitmentNot rated
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseNot rated
safe: Using medicines safelyNot rated
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionNot rated
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawNot rated
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceNot rated
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietNot rated
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely care; Supporting people to live healthier livesNot rated
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceNot rated
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversity; Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceNot rated
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careNot rated
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferencesNot rated
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsNot rated
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsNot rated
responsive: End of life care and supportNot rated
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements; Continuous learning and improving careNot rated
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringNot rated
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candourNot rated
well-led: Working in partnership with othersNot rated