Brunelcare Domiciliary Care Services Somerset

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 told us the service helped them to feel and stay safe. Their relatives agreed. People's risks were assessed, recorded and support provided to minimise these without being unduly restrictive.

Most visits happened at the times scheduled although some people had experienced delays due to staff sickness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The service was trialling a new process to ensure better deployment of staff and visit timings. The service had assessed people's dependency to enable them to prioritise visits in the event of emergencies or unplanned staff shortages. A missed visits protocol had been introduced to ensure robust oversight and follow up where required.

Spot checks took place to ensure staff were competent to support people. A relative told us, "The carers are very professional and my [family member] tends to have a senior carer who has set the high standard for other carers."

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

Staff enjoyed their roles and felt proud working for the service. They felt supported by their colleagues. One staff member said, "I love my job, my clients and all the staff there. It's a great place to work."

Professionals were unanimous in their praise of the service. Strong links had been developed with GP surgeries and reablement teams that were contributing to positive outcomes and goal setting for people.

The service worked closely with commissioners to support people's timely discharge from hospital and assessment for ongoing care and support. They had also partnered with commissioners, a private company and a selected group of people in a telecare pilot where sensors and health monitoring devices were

embedded in their homes.