Date of Assessment: 9 January 2026 to 30 January 2026. Carpenders Care Ltd is a domiciliary care service. It provides support and personal care to older people living in their own homes, some of whom live with dementia. At the time of our assessment there were 30 people receiving personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspect the service received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. We conducted this assessment due to the length of time since our last assessment. At the last inspection in December 2018, the overall rating for the service was good. At this assessment, the overall rating for the service has remained good. People and their relatives were consistently positive about the service, describing staff as kind, respectful, and attentive. People felt safe and confident when receiving care and support. People were protected from the risk of potential abuse and staff were aware of how to safeguard them. Risk assessments were person centred and supported staff’s understanding about how to reduce the risk to people. Systems and practices ensured people were protected from the risk of avoidable infections. Medicines were managed safely and people received them as prescribed. Care was effective and specific to each person’s needs. Care plans reflected people’s preferences, routines, and risks. People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. People were supported to maintain independence and make choices about their care. Preferences, such as gender for personal care, were respected and accommodated. Recruitment processes helped ensure staff were safely recruited and suitable to work with people. Sufficient staffing levels were provided to ensure people’s assessed needs were met. The culture of the service promoted equality and diversity. The registered manager was skilled and experienced within their role. Systems were in place to encourage people to have a say about the service they received. Staff were trained and confident in their roles. They worked collaboratively with health professionals to help support good outcomes. Staff said they felt supported by the registered manager and felt valued working at the service. Governance systems were effective, with regular audits, supervisions, and spot checks ensuring quality and safety. Staff were encouraged to speak up and were confident concerns would be addressed.
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Carpenders Care Limited received an overall Good rating across all five key questions at its December 2018 inspection, with people and relatives reporting high satisfaction, consistent care, and a caring, well-managed service. Minor gaps were noted in auditing staff punctuality, consistency of supervision, MAR audit effectiveness, and documentation of telephone monitoring, all of which the registered manager committed to address.
Concerns (5)
minorGovernance: “the service did not have appropriate systems in place to audit care support staff punctuality and attendance.”
minorSupervision / appraisal: “it was not evident that these took place consistently and at regular intervals over a period of a year.”
minorMedication management: “the audit had failed to identify this error. We raised this with the registered manager who advised that this was an error and she would ensure she reviewed audits.”
minorRecord keeping: “we did not see evidence that this was consistently carried out. She advised that in future she would ensure that these were documented.”
minorStaffing levels: “the service had experienced difficulties employing care support staff and that a number of staff had left the service.”
Strengths
· People and relatives consistently reported feeling safe and satisfied with the care provided.
· Individualised care plans included detailed information about personal care, preferences, cultural and spiritual needs, and life history.
· Robust safer recruitment processes including enhanced DBS checks, identity verification, right to work checks, and two written references.
· Staff received comprehensive training including safeguarding, moving and handling, basic life support, diabetes, food hygiene, and medicines administration.
· Positive relationships between care staff and people using the service, with staff demonstrating respect for privacy, dignity, and independence.
Carpenders Care Limited was rated Good overall following an announced inspection on 1 June 2016, with one breach of Regulation 12(2)(g) due to inaccurate MAR completion and the absence of an effective medicines audit. All other key questions were rated Good, with strengths in safeguarding, person-centred care planning, staff training, supervision, and quality monitoring.
Concerns (2)
criticalMedication management: “The service did not have an effective medicine audit in place... audits failed to identify whether medicines were correctly administered and signed for.”
moderateRecord keeping: “MAR sheets had not been completed accurately and in accordance with the medicines administered.”
Strengths
· Relatives reported confidence in people's safety and satisfaction with care provided
· Risk assessments were individualised, reviewed and updated when conditions changed
· Care workers received training in safeguarding, moving and handling, infection control, first aid and health and safety
· Regular supervision sessions and annual appraisals were in place for care workers
· Electronic homecare monitoring system used to track timekeeping and late or missed calls
This focused inspection confirmed that Carpenders Care Limited had remediated a prior breach of Regulation 12 regarding medicines management, with effective MAR completion, audits, risk assessments, and staff training now in place. Only the safe domain was assessed; all other key questions retain their Good ratings from the June 2016 comprehensive inspection.
Concerns (1)
criticalMedication management: “At our last inspection of Carpenders Care Limited on 1 June 2016 we found that there was a breach of legal regulation. This was because the provider did not have effective arrangements for the management of medicines.”
Strengths
· Monthly medication audits implemented to identify whether medicines were correctly administered and signed for
· Weekly checks of MAR sheets in people's homes introduced to identify issues in a timely manner
· Comprehensive medicine risk assessments in place assessing low, medium and high risk levels
· Care workers received medicines training and were assessed for knowledge and competency in administering medicines
· MAR sheets fully completed with no gaps, including correct recording of alternative-day medicines
caring: Dignity, respect and privacy
Good
caring: Person-centred and cultural awarenessGood
responsive: Care planning and individual needsGood