Vow Care Services Ltd, a small domiciliary care agency supporting 8 people, achieved a Good rating across all five key questions at its first CQC inspection in June 2023. The service demonstrated strong safeguarding practices, consistent care delivery with no missed visits, robust recruitment, and an open, well-led culture with effective governance and learning from incidents.
Strengths
· Robust recruitment procedures with criminal record checks and satisfactory references obtained before staff worked independently with people.
· No missed care calls reported; all care delivered within agreed timeframes and care workers described as punctual.
· Detailed risk assessments and care plans enabled safe and consistent care, with regular reviews every 3 months or as needs changed.
· Registered manager operated effective safeguarding systems and demonstrated clear knowledge of safeguarding processes.
· Open, inclusive culture with regular team meetings, mini training sessions, supervision and unannounced spot checks by management.
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: 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: Supporting people to develop and maintain relationships to avoid social isolationGood
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: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candourGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood