Goyt Valley Carers is a community based service, registered to provide personal care to people in their own homes. The service currently provides personal care for 25 people.

The inspection took place on the 6 and 7 April 2017. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of this inspection, as this is a small service where staff are often out during the day and we needed to make sure that the registered manager would be available to meet us. This was the first inspection since the provider moved address in July 2016. We contacted people by phone on 6 April to discuss their experience of the care they received and we visited the provider’s office on 7 April to speak to staff and view records.

There was a registered manager in post and they were present throughout the inspection. 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.

People told us they felt safe with the staff from Goyt Valley Carers. Care plans incorporated risk assessments and risks to people were identified and managed. People were very happy with the staffing arrangements and where possible people had the same carers attending to their needs. We were told carers were on time and received training on using equipment necessary to assist people to mobilise. Medicines were managed safely and staff received the necessary training to assist people with their medicines.

People were full of praise for the staff who cared for them and talked about the professionalism and knowledge of the care staff. Staff were trained to understand the particular health conditions of people and worked closely with the district nurses to ensure consistent care and treatment. Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and ensured decisions were made in people’s best interest and consent was gained for care. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet and where required, nutrition and hydration was monitored to ensure people did not become unwell.

People were extremely positive about the relationships they had with staff. They told us they looked forward to the carer’s visits as they brightened up their day. Staff were described as outstanding, kind and compassionate; and they were respectful and courteous when in people’s homes. People were actively involved in making decisions about their daily lives and the care they required; this enabled them to remain in their own homes and maintain their independence. People were treated with respect and dignity.

People were full of praise for the personalised care they received. They provided many examples of care that they considered to be exceptional. The registered manager and staff team were praised for their knowledge and understanding of people’s needs and their flexibility to respond to emergencies and changing need. People were consulted about the quality of care they received on a regular basis and their views and wishes were sought and respected. Feedback was used to improve the quality of care people experienced. No complaints had been received by the service, people told us they were more than satisfied with the care they received.

The registered manager had an open and inclusive style of management. People, families and staff praised their commitment and attitude and described them as exceptional and excellent. People were full of praise for the level of detail and understanding shown by the registered manager at their initial assessments and care reviews. They told us this continued with the quality of staff who cared for them. Staff felt the registered manager was extremely supportive of their development, which motivated them to want to provide the best care possible for people.