Archived: Allied Healthcare Bromley

People told us they were always treated in a respectful manner, and the staff knew them well and understood how to attend to their needs. Everyone we spoke with said that the staff explained what they were doing and involved them in decisions about their care, and in reviewing their care plans. One person said: 'the staff are excellent and are like family the way they treat me.' Another person said: 'the agency staff are always the same ones and know me well, I couldn't ask for better.' These comments were reflective of the comments we received from the majority of people we spoke with. People said they felt safe and well cared for.

The provider communicated with other care professionals such as GPs, district nurses and occupational therapists when necessary to ensure people were safely supported, and one person we spoke with said that the provider was good at checking they were properly supported, by checking equipment and training staff. The provider ensured that the staff were trained and supervised so that they were up to date in their practice and supported people safely.

There was a system in place to effectively check that a good quality of care was provided. A number of people we spoke with who used the service said that the staff were monitored by supervisors from the agency, who regularly visited them to observe their work practices.

We found people using the service were involved in decisions about their treatment and care and were treated with dignity and respect. They were cared for by suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff and were protected from the risk of abuse. We also found records were kept which were fit for purpose and stored securely. However, risk assessments and care plans had not been reviewed for more than 12 months for some people, putting them at risk of receiving care that was inappropriate or unsafe.