HomeTouch Care Ltd, a live-in domiciliary care agency serving 54 people, was rated Good across all five key questions at its October 2022 inspection. Minor gaps in risk assessments, mental capacity assessments and training tracking were identified but promptly resolved by the provider during the inspection process.
Concerns (5)
minor
Record keeping
: “we found some gaps in risk assessments. But by the time of writing this report, these had been addressed.”
minorConsent / capacity: “We found minor issues with mental capacity assessments as there was not always detailed guidance for staff, when supporting people with cognitive impairments.”
minorGovernance: “we found that some of these needed refinement to enable members of the senior management team to scrutinise the information effectively.”
minorSupervision / appraisal: “staff and family members were made aware of when spot checks were taking place. The service said they would review this process to maximise the effectiveness of the spot check.”
minorStaff training: “At the time of the office visit the organisation did not have a system to easily track staff training, but by the time of writing the report they had resolved this issue.”
Strengths
· People and relatives reported feeling safe and well cared for, with consistent live-in staff matched to individual needs and preferences.
· Robust and safe recruitment practices including DBS checks and two references completed before staff commenced work.
· Medicines administered safely by trained staff with competency assessments and completed MARs in place.
· Personalised, detailed care plans incorporating personal history, cultural, religious needs and equality considerations.
· Provider-developed in-house dementia training module delivered by specialist staff, with a clinical resource library for carers.
Quality-Statement breakdown (20)
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
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
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
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: 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, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving care; Working in partnership with othersGood