Jays Home Care Brent is a domiciliary care agency. The agency provided personal care to approximately 60 people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing. The agency provides a service to older adults, some of whom may have dementia, and younger disabled adults.

At our last inspection in March 2016 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 on-going 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.

Where people were supported with medicines, we found they were managed safely. Risk assessments and risk management plans were completed. Safe recruitment procedures were followed before new staff were appointed. Appropriate checks were undertaken to ensure staff were of good character and were suitable for their role.

Prior to providing personal care people’s needs were assessed, which ensured the agency was meeting their needs. Staff feedback were positive about the support, guidance, training and supervision they received. People were supported to maintain their health and the service liaised with other external health professional when needed. 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.

People were cared for in a kind and respectful way.

People's care records provided evidence of their involvement and people who used the service told us that their choices and preferences were fully taken into account. People were able to raise concerns and appropriate actions were taken by the agency to resolve their concerns.

People who used the service, relatives and staff all spoke positively of the leadership and management of the service. Audits were in place and, where shortfalls were identified, actions were taken to make improvements.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

This inspection took place on 10 & 11 March 2016 and was announced, which meant we told the provider 48 hours in advance that we would be coming.

During our focused inspection on 11 September 2015 we found one breach of regulations. The registered provider did not assess the risks to the health and safety of people who used the service and did not ensure to mitigate any such risks.

After the focused inspection, the provider wrote to us to say what they would do to meet legal requirements in relation to the breach.

We found during our comprehensive inspection on 10 & 11 March 2016 that the provider had followed their plan and that they now met legal requirements.

Jays Homecare is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care for a range of people living in their own homes. These included people living with dementia, older people, people with a physical disability and people with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection, the service was supporting 59 people and employed 28 care workers and three office care workers. The agency provides care to people in the London Borough of Brent and Ealing. At the time of our inspection there was 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.

People were kept safe and free from harm. There were appropriate numbers of care workers employed to meet people’s needs and provide a flexible service. One care worker told us, “We are a small personalised agency and we know people well.”

Care workers were able to have some flexibility in making changes requested by people in accommodating appointments and activities. This was confirmed by talking with people who used the service.

The registered manager had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents which enabled the provider to take necessary action as required. Care workers had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report any unsafe care or abusive practices.

We found that robust recruitment procedures were in place. The field supervisor told us that recently a number of care worker had left and the agency had started to actively recruit new care workers.

Care workers knew the people they were supporting and provided a personalised service. Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported and people were involved in making decisions about their care. Risk assessments were completed to ensure people were kept safe.

Medicines processes were in place should the agency be required to administer medicines. Care workers had received formal medicines administration training and their competence had been assessed as part of this training.

Care workers received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.

People were supported to eat and drink where needed.

We found a number of audits were in place to monitor quality assurance. The registered manager and provider had systems in place to obtain the views of people who used the service and their relatives/friends.

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 14 & 15 May 2015. At which three breaches of legal requirements were found. The registered provider did not undertake appropriate assessments of risk to ensure care provided was safe. The registered provider did not ensure that fit and proper persons were employed by following safe recruitment practices and obtain appropriate references for people employed. The registered person did not ensure that persons employed received appropriate training to carry out the duties they were employed to perform.

After the comprehensive inspection, the provider wrote to us to say what they would do to meet legal requirements in relation to the breaches.

We undertook a focused inspection on the 11 September 2015 to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements.

This report only covers our findings in relation to this topic. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for ‘Jays Homecare Limited’ on our website at www.cqc.org.uk’

Jays Homecare is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care for a range of people living in their own homes. This included people living with dementia, older people, people with a physical disability and people with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection, the service was supporting up to 100 people and employed 40 members of staff. The agency provides care to people in the London Boroughs of Brent and Ealing.

At the time of our inspection there was 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.

At our focused inspection on the 11 September 2015, we found that the provider had partially followed their plan to meet legal requirements. They had told us this would be completed by the 31 August 2015.

Risk assessments and care plans had been reviewed. However risk assessments did not reflect the assessed needs of people who used the service, which put them at risk of their needs not being met safely.

Appropriate checks had been carried out to ensure care workers were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

Regular supervisions and training ensured that care workers had the appropriate skill and knowledge to support people in their homes.

We identified one breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.