This inspection took place on the 21 December 2017 and 2 January 2018 and was announced.

First4Homcare Limited is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care and support for ten people in their own homes in the community. It provides a service to older people. First4Homecare is a franchise of Heritage Healthcare Limited and is supported by the Franchise Company. This was the first inspection of the service since it was registered with CQC in December 2016.

Not everyone using First4Homcare receives regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’ and help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

There was a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The service provided care and support which was personalised and responsive to people’s needs.

Risks to people’s safety were identified, assessed and appropriate action was taken. Staff had completed safeguarding adults training and knew how to keep people safe and report concerns. There were thorough recruitment checks completed to help ensure suitable staff were employed to care and support people.

People were supported to maintain good health and be involved in decisions about their health. Care workers alerted healthcare professionals about people’s health when necessary and monitored their health. Staff had the knowledge and skills to carry out their roles and their training was updated. Staff knew people well and treated them with dignity and respect. One person told us the staff were excellent and they were never rushed.

Quality assurance procedures were used to monitor and improve the service for people and they were included in developing their care and support. Feedback from people and their relatives or supporters was used to improve the service.