Walfinch Southampton received a Good rating across all five key questions at its first CQC inspection in October–November 2022, with 13 people receiving domiciliary care. The service demonstrated strong person-centred care, robust governance, effective staff training and highly positive feedback from people and relatives, with no failure themes identified.
Strengths
· People and relatives reported feeling safe and receiving consistent, timely care from regular staff members who stayed the full duration of visits.
· Robust safeguarding policies and procedures in place with the registered manager demonstrating good understanding of appropriate reporting steps.
· Effective risk assessments covering medical conditions, care equipment, home environment, medicines (including emollient creams, anticoagulants, and homely remedies).
· Out-of-hours telephone service monitored by senior staff, ensuring people, relatives and staff could contact the provider in emergencies.
· Staff received Care Certificate training, condition-specific training (e.g. dementia), equipment training, induction, supervision and ongoing observations of practice.
Quality-Statement breakdown (24)
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 to provide consistent, effective, timely careGood
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 supportNot rated
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candourGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving careGood