QUALITY LIVING CARE LIMITED

The service is a domiciliary care agency and provides personal care to people living in their own homes. Not everyone was receiving personal care. CQC only inspects where people are receiving the regulated activity personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we consider any wider social care provided. At the time of this assessment 2 out of 7 people were receiving support with personal care.

The assessment was prompted following a review of information we held about the service and it had not been assessed since registering with CQC in September 2022.

At this assessment we found breaches of 5 regulations relating to gaining consent, safe care and treatment, good governance, staffing and fit and proper persons employed.

Although there were plans to support people, many risks were not managed, and staff lacked clear guidance about people’s known health conditions. The information and instructions given to staff needed improvement so they could manage risks properly and support people safely.

The provider’s audits of the service failed to identify the concerns we found during this assessment. We could not be assured there were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience to support people safely.

The provider failed to ensure all staff received suitable training, competency assessments and regular supervisions to maintain high-quality care.

Recruitment practices were not robust, including the appropriate checks prior to staff commencing employment and working with vulnerable people.

Processes were not robust for people who required support with their medicines.

People and relatives told us they were receiving consistent care that met their needs.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment relating to breaches of regulations for gaining consent and staffing.

In instances where CQC has decided to take civil or criminal enforcement action against a provider, we will publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded.

This service is being placed in special measures. The purpose of special measures is to ensure that services providing inadequate care make significant improvements. Special measures provide a framework within which we use our enforcement powers in response to inadequate care and provide a timeframe within which providers must improve the quality of the care they provide.