Helping Hands Birmingham received a Good rating across all five key questions at its first CQC inspection in April 2021, supporting 36 people with personal care. Minor gaps identified in COVID-19 PPE compliance for non-care staff and absence of individual written COVID risk assessments for staff were acknowledged and being addressed by the provider.
Concerns (2)
minor
Infection control
: “some employees who were not involved in providing personal care wore face coverings and not masks. The registered manager confirmed following our visit that they had taken action”
minorGovernance: “The provider had introduced numerous measures to protect people and staff in regard to COVID-19 but had not completed individual written risk assessments for staff.”
Strengths
· People felt safe and protected from abuse; staff understood safeguarding responsibilities and reporting procedures.
· Medicines were managed safely with accurate MARs and competency checks completed for all staff.
· Staff were recruited safely with full pre-employment checks including DBS.
· People received consistent care from a regular staff team and punctuality was monitored via electronic call monitoring.
· Enthusiastic, caring culture with staff demonstrating kindness, compassion and respect for dignity and independence.
Quality-Statement breakdown (22)
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: 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: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood