This announced inspection took place on 14 and 23 May 2018. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we wanted to make sure someone would be available to speak with us. This was the first inspection since the service registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 January 2016. The provider became registered at the current location on 11 May 2017 and the service started providing a regulated activity thereafter.

Jeremys Carebuddies Limited provides a domiciliary care service for older people living in their own homes in the community. The service offers support to people who require help with day to day care including personal care and meal preparation. They also offer a live-in care service. At the time of our inspection all of the nine people using the service were receiving personal care.

The service is registered to provide the regulated activities personal care and treatment, disease, disorder and injury (TDDI). The registered manager confirmed they were not providing the regulated activity TDDI to any people at the time of our inspection.

The service is required to have a registered manager and there was one in post who was also the owner of the service. 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.

Information about people’s medicines was not always recorded. Medicines administration records did not give accurate details about people's medicines or whether these had been administered as prescribed, although the people using the service and their relatives who spoke with us, told us they had been administered.

Staff recruitment procedures were not always followed to ensure only suitable staff were employed by the service.

People’s needs had not always been assessed prior to receiving care so their needs and wishes could be identified and recorded. If someone’s care needs had changed, the care plans had not always been updated to reflect this.

The registered manager was frequently working as a care worker in people’s homes and therefore her time to effectively manage the office and the operation was restricted. They did not have the time to audit and monitor the quality and safety of services people received and had not identified shortfalls within the service.

People and relatives said they felt people were being cared for safely. Policies and procedures for safeguarding people from the risk of abuse were in place and staff understood these and knew to report any concerns. Risk assessments for risks to people and for their home environment were carried out. People were protected from the risk of infection as staff understood infection control procedures and followed them.

Staff received the training they required to provide them with the knowledge and skills to care for people effectively. Staff assisted people with meal preparation where required. If staff had any concerns about a person’s health they knew the processes to obtain help and advice for the individual.

The registered manager said that people using the service were able to make decisions for themselves and staff respected this. Staff understood people should make their own decisions about their care and treatment and knew to report any deterioration in a person’s ability to do so.

People and relatives said staff were caring and treated people with dignity and respect. Staff understood people’s right to make choices about their lives and respected this.

The majority of care plans viewed provided a clear picture of the person and the care and support they required. Background information about people’s lives provided staff with topics of interest to talk about. There was a complaints procedure