We carried out a review of the data available to us about LANH on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about LANH, you can give feedback on this service.
LANH is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care for people who require support in their own home.
Not everyone using LANH receives 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. At the time of our inspection, they were supporting nine people who received support with personal care tasks.
People’s experience of using this service:
The service had improved since we last inspected it on 24 April 2018. People and relatives, we spoke with was positive in their feedback. A relative said; “The service we receive has been fantastic.”
Care plans contained risk assessments, which were appropriately linked to people’s support needs.
Processes were in place to identify and reduce any environmental risks to people and care workers.
Staff had received infection control training, staff told us they had a good supply of personal protection equipment and showed they knew how important it is to protect people from cross infection.
The provider had suitable processes in place to safeguard people from different forms of abuse. Staff had been trained in safeguarding people and in the service’s whistleblowing policy. They were confident that they could raise any matters of concern with the registered manager, or the local authority safeguarding team.
The service was working according to the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) and its requirements during our inspection. This meant that people were able to communicate effectively with care workers or understand what was going on and involved in decision-making.
People’s needs were assessed prior to receiving a service including the protected characteristics under the Equalities Act.
Staff were skilled in carrying out their role. Trained staff were employed to meet people’s needs. Staff said they were supported by the registered manager.
People were encouraged to raise any concerns they had or make suggestions to improve the service they received.
Staff felt there was an open culture where they were kept informed about any changes to their role. Staff told us the registered manager was approachable and listened to their ideas and suggestions.
The service had effective systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the services provided.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection:
Requires Improvement (Report published 17 May 2018).
Why we inspected:
At our last inspection on 24 April 2018, we found a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The breach was in relation to our findings, that the provider had failed to operate effective quality monitoring systems. We also recommended that the provider sought guidance on the implementation of comprehensive risk assessments and that the provider sought advice and guidance about making themselves available to people who use the service at all times particularly during emergencies to mitigate risk to people who use the service. We asked the registered provider to take action to meet the regulations. However, due to technical problems, we did not receive sent action plan by the date we stated. At this inspection, we found that improvements had been made in relation to the requirement made above.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive. We will carry out another scheduled inspection to make sure the service continues to maintain a Good rating.
LANH is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care for people who require support in their own home. 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. This was the first comprehensive inspection since the agency was registered on 16 June 2017. At the time of our inspection, they were supporting two people who received support with personal care tasks. One person was in hospital at the time of the inspection visit. Both people were private clients.
There was a registered manager at the service. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The provider did not have adequate processes in place to monitor the delivery of the service.
The provider had not carried out appropriate individual risk assessments when they visited people for the first time. There were no care related risk assessments identified for people’s specific health and care needs, their mental health needs, medicines management, and any equipment needed. We have made a recommendation about this.
Relatives told us that the provider’s telephone number on their website was unobtainable. We have made a recommendation about this.
The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The provider understood their responsibilities under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People’s capacity to consent to care and support had been assessed and recorded within their care plans.
Staff had received training as is necessary to enable them to carry out the duties they are employed to perform. All staff received induction training at start of their employment. Refresher training was provided at regular intervals.
People’s needs had not been properly assessed by LANH prior to receiving support from the service. Care plans had been developed with people by LANH on how to meet their needs.
The provider had followed effective recruitment procedures to check that potential staff employed were of good character and had the skills and experience needed to carry out their roles.
Medicines were managed safely and people received them as prescribed. However, medicine audits had not been undertaken.
The provider had suitable processes in place to safeguard people from different forms of abuse. The registered manager knew what their responsibilities were in relation to keeping people safe from the risk of abuse. The registered manager recognised the signs of abuse and what to look out for. There were systems in place to support staff and people to stay safe.
The provider provided sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and provide a flexible service.
People were supported with meal planning, preparation, eating and drinking. Staff supported people, by contacting the office to alert the provider to any identified health needs so that their doctor or nurse could be informed.
We found a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.