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Archived: Allied Healthcare Lancaster

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Suite 1.1-1.3, The Barracks, White Cross Industrial Estate, South Road, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 4XQ

Provided and run by:
Nestor Primecare Services Limited

All Inspections

10 April 2018

During a routine inspection

This inspection visit took place on 10 April 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the service delivered domiciliary care to people who lived in their own homes. We needed to be sure staff in the office and people the service supported would be available to speak to us.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. At the time of our inspection there were 95 people receiving a service from the agency.

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.

At the last inspection on 26 January 2016 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service had not changed since our last inspection.

People we spoke with told us staff who supported them were kind, patient and respectful. One person we visited who received a service said, “Lovely people all of them. They are so kind and have to be patient with me. I am on my own so feel safe knowing someone is helping me.”

The registered manager had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report any incidents of alleged abuse.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care and staff visiting people’s homes. These had been kept under review and updated when changes occurred to the person or environment.

Staff had been recruited safely, appropriately trained and supported. They had skills, knowledge and experience required to support people in their own homes. The management team deployed sufficient staffing levels to provide support people required in their own homes.

Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required. People told us they received their medicines at the times they needed them.

Care plans were organised and had identified the care and support people required. We found they were personalised and informative about care people received. They had been kept under review and updated when necessary. They reflected any risks and people’s changing needs.

Staff had received food and hygiene training to ensure they were confident when preparing meals in people’s homes.

We found by talking with people saw there was an emphasis on promoting dignity, respect and independence for people supported by Allied Healthcare. They told us they were treated as individuals and received person centred care.

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.

People who used the service and their relatives knew how to raise a complaint and who to speak with. The management team had kept a record of complaints received and these had been responded to in a timely manner

The management team used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service they provided. For example they included regular staff meetings, spot checks in people’s homes, management team visits and phone calls to people and satisfaction surveys. The registered manager told us they continually strived to improve services for people by monitoring the quality of service provision and making improvements.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

26 January 2016

During a routine inspection

This inspection took place on 26 and 27 January 2016 and was announced. We visited the office base on the 26 January 2016. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice about our visit. We did this to ensure we had access to the main office and the management team were available.

Allied Healthcare Services (Lancaster) provides domiciliary care and support to a range of people in their own homes. The range of support provided includes assistance with personal care, domestic duties, laundry tasks, shopping, and meal preparation. They also provide support for people (re-enablement scheme) who have recently been discharged from rehabilitation services or hospital. This service is for six weeks and is part of a multi-agency programme aimed at supporting people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection visit we were informed the service provided support for approximately 40 people on the ‘re- enablement scheme’. They also provided domiciliary support for approximately 200 people.

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.

At the last inspection on 29 April 2014 the service was meeting the requirements of the regulations that were inspected at that time.

There were appropriate numbers of staff employed to support people who used the service and provide a flexible service. For example one person who used Allied Healthcare said, “They are very good and never leave me without anyone.”

The registered manager had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and took necessary action as required. Records confirmed staff had received safeguarding training. We spoke with staff and they had an understanding of their responsibilities to report any abusive practices.

During this inspection we found there were appropriate numbers of staff employed to support people who used the agency and they provided a flexible service. Recruitment procedures were safe with checks undertaken before new staff members commenced their employment. Staff received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. One staff member said, “They provide so much training.”

Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training. We confirmed this by looking at staff training records and talking with staff and the management team. This meant they had the competency and skills required to administer medicines safely.

People were supported to eat and drink where needed and staff had received relevant training. Staff supported people to attend healthcare appointments and liaised with their GP and other healthcare professionals. This was confirmed by records kept by the agency.

A number of audits were in place to monitor quality assurance. The registered manager and the organisation had systems in place to obtain the views of people who used the service. This was in place to ensure the service continued to develop and address any issues they identified. This meant they continually monitored the quality of care and looked to improve the service.