Blue Arch Homecare

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's experience of using this service and what we found. The person we spoke with and most relatives we spoke with were satisfied with the care that staff provided and with the management of the service, though two relatives were dissatisfied with some aspects of the service. This included some late calls and not having agreed call times. When we raised the issues of dissatisfaction with the registered manager, the issues were acted on swiftly.

Everyone we spoke with except two relatives, said safe care was provided. If they had any concerns, the registered manager would act on the issues raised and put measures in place to ensure safe care.

People were protected against abuse, neglect and discrimination. People had been largely protected against the risk of infection though the registered manager had to take action to ensure all staff wore full protective equipment.

Details of how to reduce risks to people's safety were included in people's care plans though one risk assessment lacked detail on encouraging a person to eat. Care plans reflected people's individual needs.

Safe recruitment practices were largely in place to ensure only suitable staff worked at the service, though staff references had not always come from relevant past care employers. Enough staff were employed to meet people's needs. Timely calls were mainly in place to provide personal care. Quality assurance systems were in place to try to ensure people were provided with a quality service though call times and care provided was not always checked.

The registered manager understood their responsibilities and worked in an open and transparent way.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk