ICare Solutions Stockport Limited improved from Requires Improvement to Good across all five key questions, having remediated prior regulatory breaches in safeguarding, recruitment, and governance. Two recommendations were made regarding staff language barriers and gender preference fulfilment, but no current breaches of regulation were found.
Concerns (4)
moderate
Person-centred care
: “Some people and their relatives raised concerns with us about not always receiving care from female carers only, when this was their stated preference.”
moderateCommunication with families: “Some people, relatives and staff raised concerns with us about language barriers with some care staff and felt that this was a risk to providing safe care.”
minorRecord keeping: “Some staff told us they did not have enough time during calls to always read care plans. Staff told us there was no continuity of information as they could not access the previous staff member's visit notes.”
minorGovernance: “Staff told us it was often difficult to contact someone out of hours.”
Strengths
· Safeguarding policy and procedures improved since last inspection; staff demonstrated understanding of signs of abuse and reporting obligations.
· Safe recruitment practices restored, including DBS checks and references; previous regulatory breach resolved.
· Medicines managed safely with face-to-face training, annual competency checks, and audit systems for errors.
· Care plans were detailed, person-centred, and co-produced with people and their families.
· Effective infection prevention and control practices, including continued use of PPE beyond government guidance.
Quality-Statement breakdown (22)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
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: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
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: End of life care and supportGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving care; duty of candourGood
well-led: Working in partnership with othersGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood