About the service:

Hurstwood Court DCA is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in flats within an assisted living setting. It provides a service to older adults. At the time of the inspection, three people were being supported by the service.

Not everyone using a domiciliary care agency receives regulated activity; the Care Quality Commission (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.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

People's experience of using this service:

There were safeguarding systems and processes that protected people from harm. Staff knew the signs of abuse and what to do if they suspected it. Staff had received training and felt confident to raise any concerns they had.

People received care and support from regular staff who were kind and caring.

People's needs had been fully assessed before they received support from the service.

Care plans contained sufficient detail for staff to offer support that reflected people's individual needs and preferences. Care plans were reviewed regularly and updated as required. Staff understood the needs of the people they supported and had developed positive relationships.

Safe recruitment practices were in place and people were supported by staff that had undertaken a thorough induction process and training relevant to their roles. Enough staff were employed to meet the needs of the people using the service. Staff were supported through regular supervision and team meetings.

Risks to people had been identified and staff had clear guidance available to them to support people and reduce the risk.

Medicines were managed safely by trained and competent staff. Medication policies and best practice guidance was available to all staff. Medication administration records (MARs) were fully completed and audited regularly.

Staff had undertaken infection control training and understood actions required to minimise the risk of infection being spread. They had access to personal protective equipment (PPE).

People's independence was promoted and their right to privacy and dignity respected.

The registered provider complied with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. Staff understood and respected people's right to make their own decisions where possible and encouraged people to make decisions about the care they received.

Lessons were learnt when things went wrong and systems were improved if needed. The management team were responsive and approachable to people that used the service and to the staff. The registered manager had a clear understanding of their responsibilities of their registration with us.

Rating at last inspection:

The service was rated Good at the last inspection on 11 October 2016 (report published 14 November 2016).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

This announced inspection took place on the 11 October 2016. Hurstwood Court is a service that provides the regulated activity of personal care to people living in their homes on a complex with other services offered by the provider. People who live at the service have the option of having personal care as well as support with housekeeping and social activities provided by the service. There were two people receiving support with their care at the time of our inspection.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of our 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 that they felt safe in their own home and we observed people to be happy and relaxed around the staff that supported them. All staff had completed the provider’s mandatory training. Staffing levels ensured that people received the support they required at the times they needed. We observed that there was sufficient staff to meet the needs of the people they were supporting. The recruitment practice protected people from being cared for by staff that were unsuitable to work in their home.

Support plans contained risk assessments to protect people from identified risks and help to keep them safe. They gave information for staff on the identified risk and informed staff on the measures to take to minimise any risks.

People were supported to take their medicines as prescribed. Records showed that medicines were obtained, stored, administered and disposed of safely. People were supported to maintain good health and had access to healthcare services when needed.

People were actively involved in decisions about their care and support needs There were formal systems in place to assess people’s capacity for decision making under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported and people were involved in making decisions about their support. People participated in a range of activities both in their own home and in the community and received the support they needed to help them do this. People were able to choose where they spent their time and what they did.

Staff had good relationships with the people they supported. Complaints were appropriately investigated and action was taken to make improvements to the service when this was found to be necessary. The management team was approachable and had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided. Staff and people were confident that issues would be addressed and that any concerns they had would be listened to.