We undertook an announced inspection of Home Instead Senior Care on 25 May 2017. Home Instead Senior Care is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people in their own homes. The service provides support to people of all ages and different abilities. At the time of inspection the service provided care to six people.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 service was registered with the CQC in June 2016. This inspection on 25 May 2017 was the first inspection for the service.

People who used the service spoke positively about the care provided. They told us they felt safe around care workers and were happy with the care provided by care workers and management at the service.

Systems and processes were in place to help protect people from the risk of harm. Care workers had received training in safeguarding adults and knew how to recognise and report any concerns or allegations of abuse. The service was part of an external initiative called “Friends Against Scams”. This is a National Trading Standards scam initiative which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams.

Risk assessments were in place which detailed potential risks to people and how to protect people from harm. Risk assessments included detailed information about preventative actions that needed to be taken to minimise risks as well as clear and detailed measures for care workers on how to support people safely.

We checked the arrangements in place in respect of medicines. Care workers had received medicines training and policies and procedures were in place. We looked at a sample of Medicines Administration Records (MARs) and found that there were no unexplained gaps in these. The service had a medicines audit in place.

There were comprehensive and effective recruitment and selection procedures in place to ensure people were safe and not at risk of being supported by staff who were unsuitable.

The service had an electronic system in place to monitor care worker’s punctuality. People told us their care workers turned up on time and they received the same care worker on a regular basis and had consistency in the level of care they received. Management at the service explained that consistency of care was an important aspect of the care they provided.

Care workers had the necessary knowledge and skills they needed to carry out their roles and responsibilities. Care workers were provided with an extensive induction which provided practical training. Care workers also received on-going training. Care workers spoke positively about their experiences working for the service. They told us that they received continuous support from management and morale amongst staff was positive.

Care workers were aware of the importance of treating people with respect and dignity. Feedback from people indicated that positive and close relationships had developed between people using the service and their care worker.

Care plans provided information about people’s life history and medical background. There was a detailed support plan outlining the support people needed with various aspects of their daily life such as personal care, continence, eating and drinking, communication, mobility, medicines, religious and cultural needs. Care plans detailed people’s care preferences, daily routine likes and dislikes and people that were important to them. Records showed when the person’s needs had changed, the person’s care plan had been updated accordingly and measures put in place if additional support was required

Daily communication records were in place which recorded visit notes, daily