Good Companions Care at Home Agency

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

People said they felt safe and well-supported during the COVID-19 pandemic. They described how staff always wore the correct PPE, washed their hands regularly and followed all the rules and guidelines.

People's needs and risks to their well-being were assessed and recorded. The quality and detail of the care records was inconsistent. We have made a recommendation about this.

People described staff as "good at their jobs". People said they were fully involved in managing their own care service. They told us all staff, including office staff, treated them like "part of the family".

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff assisted them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service upheld this practice.

Staff understood how to report any concerns and felt these would be listened to. Some people were assisted with their medicines and there were clear systems to manage this.

At the time of this inspection there were enough staff employed to provide the service. Recently there had been a significant gap in staffing but the provider had worked with commissioners to manage the situation until new staff could be appointed.

People and staff said the management team were open, approachable and always contactable.