Boldglen Limited Medway Swale

We could not be assured new staff were adequately checked to ensure they were suitable to work with people to keep them safe. We found no evidence that people had been harmed however, systems were not robust enough to demonstrate staff recruitment was effectively managed.

There was a quality and assurance system in place and the provider had carried out the appropriate checks to ensure that the quality of the service was maintained. The provider had identified issues relating to people's care and taken action to address these. However, the provider's quality monitoring processes had not identified issues with safe recruitment practice, this is an area for improvement.

Risk assessments were in place to provide guidance to staff on how to support people. These were detailed and clear. However, safe ways of working when pets were present in a person's home were not always listed. We discussed this with the registered manager as an area for improvement. Care plans contained up to date information about people's medicines, as well as their care and support needs.

Prior to people receiving a service their needs were thoroughly assessed. People's oral care, medicines and health needs were included in the information obtained before care packages started to enable staff to provide safe, person-centred care and support.

The provider had an up to date infection prevention and control (IPC) policy. Staff had completed IPC training. Staff had access to enough personal protective equipment (PPE) and wore this to keep themselves and people safe.

Enough staff were deployed to keep people safe. People were supported by regular staff who they knew well. Staff were well supported by the management team. Staff had completed mandatory training.

Care plans were in place which provided a list of tasks for staff to complete. These were person centred and detailed to show new staff what all the tasks were. People and their relatives told us staff knew their needs and preferences well. They told us they had been involved with the care planning process.

People and relatives knew how to complain. 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.