A.R.U Recruitment Ltd - ARU Homecare

Not everyone using ARU Recruitment receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

This was the first inspection of this service. The inspection was undertaken on 1 December 2017, by two inspectors and an expert by experience.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. A manager had been appointed and they were going to make a registered managers application to the CQC.

People who used the service told us they felt safe with the staff. Staff understood how to identify signs of abuse and knew how to report concerns to protect people from harm and abuse. Infection prevention and control measures were robust. Risks present to people's wellbeing, and those present in their home environment were assessed and monitored by staff to protect the wellbeing of all parties. There were sufficient staff provided to meet people's needs.

Accidents and incidents were monitored and assessed to help to prevent further incidents from occurring. A business continuity plan was in place to inform the staff of the action they must take to maintain the service in the event of an unexpected emergency. Staff undertook training in health and safety and medicine management to help to maintain people's wellbeing.

Staff received training and supervision and an annual appraisal had started to occur. This helped to monitor and develop the staff's performance. Spot check visits occurred to assess the staff's skills and observe the quality of the service provided to people.

People's independence was promoted, potential risks to people's wellbeing were known by staff. Staff shared information with relevant health care professionals, with people's permission, to promote their wellbeing. People were supported to go out and socialise, where this was required.

People's capacity was assessed and care and support was provided in line with the Mental Capacity Act

2005, which helped to protect people's rights.

People were treated with kindness and their privacy, dignity and diversity was respected. People's confidentiality was maintained and care records were stored securely, in line with data protection legislation. Advocates were provided to people to help them raise their views, if necessary.

People had personalised care records detailing their individual preferences for their care and support. People's communication needs were recorded and staff were aware of this information. People's dietary needs were met, staff offered choices of food and drinks in line with people's preferences. There was a complaints policy and procedure in place, feedback was welcomed from people their relatives and staff. Any issues raised were investigated and this information was used to improve the service provided to people.

The providers visions and values were clear and the registered manager was working to develop the quality assurance audits and checks for all aspects of the service. Further time was required to ensure these were embedded at the service. We will look at the quality assurance in more detail at our next inspection.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found