Helping Hands Fareham received a Good rating across all five key questions at this October 2023 inspection, with 52 people receiving personal care in their own homes. The service demonstrated strong person-centred care, safe medicines management, robust governance and a positive, inclusive culture with no areas of concern identified.
Strengths
· People and relatives felt safe and reported staff were consistently on time, staying for their allotted time and calling ahead if running late.
· Medicines were managed safely with detailed care plans, staff training, competency assessments and regular audits.
· Staff received comprehensive induction including Care Certificate, blended learning, shadowing and ongoing supervision and observations.
· Care plans were highly personalised, person-centred and regularly reviewed, reflecting individuals' needs, preferences, likes and dislikes.
· Strong governance systems including care plan audits, medicine administration record audits, quality assurance questionnaires and spot checks.
Quality-Statement breakdown (24)
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: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely care; supporting people to live healthier livesGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferencesGood
responsive: Supporting people to develop and maintain relationships to avoid social isolationGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving careGood
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
Helping Hands Fareham was rated Good across all five key questions at its July 2017 inspection, with 67 people receiving safe, personalised and well-managed home care. Minor concerns about staffing levels and internal communication had been acknowledged and addressed by the registered manager prior to the inspection.
Concerns (2)
minorStaffing levels: “the registered manager and head of care acknowledged they had been experiencing difficulties with staffing levels as a result of unplanned absences”
minorCommunication with families: “communication between office staff and care staff was not effective and as a result information about people's care was not passed on to the appropriate staff member”
Strengths
· People felt safe and expressed confidence in care staff, with no concerns raised about the quality of personal care received.
· Safe recruitment practices were followed including DBS checks, work references and fitness to work assessments.
· Staff received a structured induction aligned to the Care Certificate, including shadowing and competency review by supervisors.
· Staff received regular training including specialist subjects (PEG, stoma care, catheter care, glucose monitoring) supported by five clinical nurses.
· Regular supervision, direct observations, appraisals and probationary reviews were in place for all staff.