A1 Homecare Agency

Updated 13 November 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of Inspection

This inspection was announced.

We gave the service short notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority quality team and the local authority safeguarding team. No concerns were raised about this service.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We reviewed a range of records. This including both care files and three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also looked a several policies and procedures. As part of the inspection we spoke with the registered manager and contacted one member of staff. We did not speak with people who used the service as they were family members and friends of the provider .

After the inspection

Immediately after the inspection the registered manager provided us with an updated list of refresher training courses they had booked for staff to attend, minutes of a team meeting and minutes of a group staff supervision.

Updated 13 November 2019

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The people who used the service were a family member and a family friend of the provider who is also the registered manager. Both people were in receipt of direct payments which enabled them to choose their preferred provider.

People’s needs, and preferences were met by staff who knew the people well. There were three members of staff employed at the agency. Two carers were the providers relatives and there was one other part time carer.

Staff had appropriate recruitment checks in place to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

Staff had undertaken safeguarding training and the registered manager knew how to report any concerns of abuse. Suitable policies and procedures were in place for staff to refer to if required.

Staff were not administering medicines. However, there was a medication policy in place should circumstances change. Staff had completed medication training. However, this required updating.

Following our inspection, the provider sent us confirmation showing dates of booked medication training.

People were safely supported, risk assessments about their care and support were assessed and had been reviewed.

Peoples support plans were followed in practice. Any changes to the care plan had been amended appropriately.

Systems were in place for the recording and responding to complaints.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at the last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published April 2017).

Why we inspected

The was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as part of our inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.