First inspection of this domiciliary care agency rated Requires Improvement overall, with breaches of Regulation 17 (good governance) and Regulation 19 (fit and proper persons) due to inadequate staff recruitment checks and ineffective auditing. Care delivery was rated Good for effective, caring and responsive, with person-centred care plans and positive feedback from people and relatives.
Concerns (4)
critical
Staff competency
: “People's health and safety was put at risk because staff were not properly checked to confirm they had the skills and experience to provide safe care.”
criticalGovernance: “The provider's staff recruitment and auditing practices were not effective to ensure shortfalls in the systems were identified and rectified”
criticalRecord keeping: “There was no recruitment file for one care worker, such as details of criminal background checks and proof of identity.”
minorStaff training: “some staff who had started work at the service recently were yet to complete some mandatory training.”
Strengths
· Risk assessments were detailed and included people's personal situations and healthcare needs
· Staff treated people with kindness and respect
· Care plans were person-centred, and people had control over when and how to be supported
· Staff had received training in safeguarding and knew what actions to take to protect people from harm
· Systems in place for infection prevention and control with PPE available
Quality-Statement breakdown (22)
safe: Staffing and recruitmentRequires improvement
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementNot rated
safe: Using medicines safelyNot rated
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseNot rated
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongNot rated
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionNot rated
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawNot rated
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceNot rated
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietNot rated
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely careNot rated
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceNot rated
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; equality and diversityNot rated
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careNot rated
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceNot rated
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferencesNot rated
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsNot rated
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsNot rated
responsive: End of Life care and supportNot rated
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsNot rated
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staff; Continuous learning and improving careNot rated
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candourNot rated
well-led: Working in partnership with othersNot rated