The Garden of Kent Homecare LTD t/a The Garden of England Homecare

The Garden of Kent Homecare is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to adults who want to remain independent in their own home in the community. Most of the people who use this service are older adults. This inspection looked at people's personal care service.

There was a registered manager in post who was present during the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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. The registered manager was also the provider.

At the last inspection in October 2017, the service received a rating of requires improvement. The provider was in breach of five regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. At this inspection we found that the provider had made the required improvements and was compliant with all the regulations.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe and comfortable. Staff continued to receive training in how to safeguard people and understood their responsibilities to report any incidences or suspicions of abuse.

The registered manager had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required.

Risk assessments were carried out to enable people to keep their independence and receive care with minimum risk to themselves or others. People received their medicines when they needed them from staff who had been trained and had their competency checked.

The provider made sure there was enough staff on duty. We found recruitment procedures were safe with appropriate checks undertaken before new members of staff commenced their employment. This helped to ensure, they were suited to work with people.

People received effective care and support from competent and well-trained staff. Staff were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills and knowledge required to support people with their care needs. Staff received a thorough induction at the start of their employment. All staff received regular supervision and annual appraisals.

Staff knew the people they were supporting well and provided a personalised service. Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported and included people's likes and dislikes.

People's health and nutritional needs were assessed and staff contacted relevant health care professionals

for advice as necessary to help maintain people's wellbeing.

Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The provider and staff had received training on these. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

There was also a policy on the Mental Capacity Act which was accessible to staff.

People were cared for with kindness and compassion. They were treated with dignity and respect and supported to maintain their independence.

People were supported to maintain their health, access health services and were given advice about how to eat healthily.

People had access to a complaints procedure and were confident any concerns would be taken seriously and acted upon.

The registered manager conducted regular quality assurance assessments to help raise standards and drive improvements.

People and their relatives told us the registered manager was a good manager. The culture of the service was open and positive. The registered manager was very supportive and was committed to providing quality services to people.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found