Support 4 u healthcare

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.

Potential new staff to the service had a series of checks carried out to ensure they were suitable to work with the people they supported. However, we found areas for improvement were needed to ensure these checks were robust.

Staff had access to information in peoples' care plans and risk assessments that helped guide them to care and support people effectively. However, these records could be more detailed to help guide staff.

We have made a recommendation about improving the level of detail within people's care records and risk assessments to guide staff on people's health conditions and known risks.

Staff were trained to administer people's prescribed medicines safely. However, information to guide staff on 'as required' medicines such as pain relief could be more detailed.

We have recommended that the provider and registered manager follows medicines best practice guidance.

Whilst there was no one currently using the service with a learning disability or autism. The registered manager had not read the CQC guidance for supporting people with a learning disability called 'Right support, right care, right culture'. Their registration with the CQC had stated they may support people with a learning disability and or autism in the future.

People, and their relatives had positive opinions on the communication of the office staff and management team. They told us the various ways staff requested feedback on the service. This included verbally during staff spot checks and via a survey. Staff were trained and had some spot checks undertaken to check they were working in line with their training. However, catheter care spot checks had not been completed to ensure staff followed this training. Staff were encouraged to discuss and review their performance through supervision and team meetings.

Staff were kind and respectful towards people. There were enough knowledgeable and trained staff to meet people's care and support needs. They understood how to keep people safe from poor care and harm. Staff told us they would whistle-blow any concerns they may have to their registered manager or the CQC. Where people wanted to discuss their end of life wishes this information would be recorded to guide staff.

Staff told us they were trained in infection prevention and control and followed good practice guidance in relation to this. Systems were in place to learn lessons when an incident, accident or near miss occurred or there was a risk of this.

Staff encouraged people to drink and eat plenty. People were encouraged to make their own choices and these choices were respected. Staff helped promote and maintain people's privacy and dignity. They also encouraged people to be as independent as possible and with the support from staff, people were able to remain in their own homes. Staff also encouraged people and their relatives, where appropriate, to be involved in discussions around their support and care needs.

The registered manager worked with external health and social care professionals. This would help people to receive joined up care and support. There was a process in place to investigate and resolve complaints where possible. Actions were taken as a result of learning to try to reduce the risk of recurrence.

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.