Somerset Care Community Services (Wiltshire), a domiciliary care agency supporting 140 people, was rated Good across all five key questions at this first inspection. A single recommendation was made regarding the need for 'as required' medicines protocols, with staffing challenges and inconsistent care plan reviews noted as minor concerns.
Concerns (5)
minor
Medication management
: “Where people had 'as required' medicines there was not always an 'as required' protocol in place for staff to know when to give this medicine.”
minorStaffing levels: “The service had experienced staffing challenges which had led to the provider reviewing people's packages of care.”
minorMissed or late visits: “I haven't had any missed calls. I've had delayed calls, but I take that into consideration because of the traffic where I live”
minorCare planning: “Some people did say they had not seen their care plan for some time. One person said, 'Someone may have come a couple of years ago and done an update.'”
minorCommunication with families: “Some people told us they were not asked for their views. We shared this with the registered manager who told us they would make sure those people were included.”
Strengths
· Personalised and detailed care plans with guidance on people's likes, dislikes and preferences
· Electronic medicine recording system giving office staff oversight of medicines administration
· Risks identified with regularly reviewed risk management plans
· Safe recruitment with DBS and pre-employment checks
· Comprehensive staff training including moving and handling, safeguarding and medicines management with competency assessments
Quality-Statement breakdown (23)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawGood
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies; supporting people to access healthcareGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferencesGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: Duty of candour: being open and honest when something goes wrongGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles; understanding quality, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood