This inspection took place on 29 November and 6 December 2017 and was announced. This was the first inspection of the service since it was registered on 12 December 2016.

Helping Hand Homecare is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses, apartments or flats in the community. It provides a service to adults and people with a physical disability. At the time of this inspection 27 people received a domiciliary care service in their own homes.

The owner (provider) of the service is also the registered manager. Throughout this report we refer to them as the 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.

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

People were protected from harm by staff that recognised the signs of abuse and were confident to raise concerns. Personalised care plans and risk assessments were in place and there was enough staff to safely provide care and support.

People were supported to make choices in relation to their food and drink and to maintain good health.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff understood the principles of the mental health act.

There were safe recruitment processes to prevent unsuitable staff working with vulnerable people. We recommended that the registered manager evidenced more clearly what new staff had learnt during their induction and reflected this in their supervisions.

The administration of medicines was well managed, there were robust systems in place to ensure people received their medicines safely and people received support from health professionals when required.

Documentation was in place to record accidents and incidents.

The care and support people received was person centred. Staff were kind and treated people with dignity and respect and their independence was promoted. They were sensitive to people’s needs regarding equality, diversity and their human rights, as their choices and preferences were respected.

Feedback systems were in place where the views of people and relatives were sought. People were given information on how to raise a complaint should they choose to do so.

The registered manager led a good service. Staff said the management team were approachable and supportive and there were good working relationships with health and social care professionals.

The safety and quality of support people received was monitored and the provider completed quality assurance audits to drive continuous improvement of the service.