Home Instead Senior Care is a domiciliary care agency that is registered to care for people living in their own homes. The service offers care to people with a dementia related illness, people who require help with personal care, light household duties and those who require companionship.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At the time of the inspection there were 52 people receiving a service which included personal care. The service refers to people who use the service as ‘clients’ and care staff as ‘CAREGivers’ so we will refer to them as such throughout this report.

There was an appropriate safeguarding policy and procedure in place and staff had received training. Accidents and incidents were recorded appropriately and risk assessments completed as required

Staff were recruited via a robust procedure and there was a system in place to alert the service if a caregiver had not arrived. Systems were in place for the prevention and control of infection.

There was a medicines policy and guidance for CAREGivers around safe administration. CAREGivers had undertaken training and competency checks were regularly undertaken.

Clients’ care and support needs had been thoroughly assessed and care plans written in line with these needs. CAREGivers had undertaken a thorough induction programme and further training was on-going.

The service was working within the legal requirements of The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

Clients told us the CAREGivers were kind and friendly and respected privacy and dignity. Clients were involved in planning of their care and support and reviews.

The work force was from many different walks of life and clients with diverse needs were supported sensitively and with regard to their particular requirements.

The service produced a welcome package which included information about the service. There was a policy around autonomy and independence and clients were supported to do as much for themselves as possible.

Care files were person-centred and CAREGivers were introduced to the client prior to commencement of the service to try to ensure compatibility. The service was flexible and could be altered to suit the clients’ changing needs. Care plans were reviewed and updated as necessary.

Clients were supported to follow their interests and hobbies, both in the home and outside in the community. There was a relevant complaints procedure but there had been no recent complaints. The service had received a number of compliments.

Staff had received good quality training in end of life care and were part of the team that helped support clients at this time if needed

There was a strong management structure and staff felt well supported by all the management team. Staff supervisions and meetings were held on a regular basis.

Client feedback was sought regularly to help drive improvement to service delivery. Audits and quality checks were undertaken on a regular basis and any issues or concerns addressed with appropriate actions.

The service was committed to partnership working and was involved in various initiatives within the local area.

Home Instead Senior Care is registered to provide personal care for people living in their own homes in the Rochdale area. The service also provided light household duties and companionship to people with dementia.

We last inspected this service on 18 February 2014 and found the regulations we assessed were being met.

The provider was given 48 hours’ notice of this inspection which took place on 19 August 2015. This was to ensure that the registered manager would be available to assist us with the inspection.

The service had a registered manager in post. 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.

Safeguarding procedures were robust and members of staff understood their role in safeguarding vulnerable people from harm.

Recruitment procedures were thorough which protected people from the employment of unsuitable staff.

People who used the service or their representative had signed a ‘client agreement’ to confirm that they had consented to the care provided.

Members of staff told us they received regular training in order to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to provide effective care for people who used the service.

Care workers understood the importance of promoting people’s privacy and dignity. People who used the service told us they were treated with respect and the care workers were friendly.

People new to the service were introduced to their care workers before any care was given to make sure they would get on well together.

People’s care records included information about people’s personal preferences. These plans were reviewed regularly so that staff had the information they needed about the help and support people required.

People who used the service and their relatives were given the opportunity to express their views about the agency by completing an annual survey. The last survey of June 2015 indicated that people would recommend the agency to other people.

Although the people who used the service told us they were satisfied with the care provided they felt confident to make a complaint if necessary.

Members of staff told us they liked working for the service and found the provider and registered manager approachable and supportive.

We saw that systems were in place for the monitoring of the quality and safety of the service provided.

We visited Home Instead Senior Care on 18 February 2014. For the purpose of the report people who used the service wished to be referred to as clients and staff were referred to as care givers

The agency provided care and support to clients enabling them to remain in their own homes and to lead as independent a life as possible. The visits were mainly to assist clients with personal care such making sure medication had been taken, assisting with bathing if required, preparation and cooking of meals, light domestic duties and companionship.

We looked at the care journals for two clients. Both journals contained relevant information including contact details for the families and GPs, personal preferences and medical and health information.

We saw relevant policies and procedures were available in the office and were updated as required. Home Instead Senior Care Rochdale was part of a national care franchise and all policies and procedures were national across all agencies.

We looked at two care givers files and saw rigorous and robust recruitment procedures were in place.

We spoke with some clients who told us, “It’s an excellent service”, and “The staff are polite, respectful and kind”.

We spoke with some care givers who told us, “I am proud to work for this company. The training is good and the owner and the manager are very supportive “. Another told us, “I like working for this agency, it’s well run and we get good support and regular supervision”.

We did not speak with any people who use the service as part of this inspection.