Harvest Life Care Ltd is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to 15 older adults and younger disabled adults. This includes a 'live in' care workers service (this means that there are staff supporting some people 24 hours a day, seven days a week).

This inspection took place on 21 and 22 June, and 4, 5 July 2018. The inspection was announced. This is the first Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection since the service registered on 2 June 2017.

Not everyone using Harvest Life Care Ltd received a 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.

There was a registered manager in place. 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.’

People sometimes experienced late care calls or care calls at a different time to times agreed. We have made recommendations that the provider has a robust system in place for monitoring call times and duration which would help to identify and manage any late or missed calls to people more effectively.

Staff were not always following the providers medication policy. They were not providing to people the agreed level of support they needed to take their prescribed medication safely. This meant people were not always having their medication as prescribed. We have made recommendations that the provider consider current guidance such as NICE guidance on managing medicines for adults in community settings (March 2017) and take action to update staff practice accordingly.

People were supported by staff who knew about safeguarding and its reporting processes. Risk management strategies provided guidance and information for staff on how to reduce and monitor people’s assessed risks to their health and welfare. People’s care records were held securely within the office to ensure confidentiality and a copy held within people’s own homes.

People had technology and equipment in place to help staff assist them to receive safe care and support. When things did not go as planned, the registered manager took actions to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Staff were inducted and trained to meet people’s care and support needs. Supervisions and competency checks were in place to monitor and develop staff. New staff had recruitment checks completed on them prior to them working at the service.

Systems were in place for staff to maintain infection prevention and control.

People were involved in their care decisions and staff promoted people’s independence as far as practicable. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

People were assisted by staff, where needed, with their eating and drinking to promote their well-being.

Staff worked with other organisations to provide care that was coordinated and joined up. Where people were at the end of their life staff worked in partnership with other healthcare professionals to ensure their care was dignified and comfortable.

People received a caring service by staff who knew them well. Staff maintained people’s privacy and dignity when supporting them with their personal care needs.

Compliments were received about the service and people were happy with how their complaints were managed, responded to and resolved where possible. The registered manager led by example and encouraged an open and honest culture within their staff team. Audit and governance systems were in the process of being improved so that