Archived: Advantage Healthcare - Torquay

People who used the service told us they were very happy with the care they received. They said "I'm very happy with them" and "they know my routines". We found the care plans contained enough detail so care workers knew how to meet people's needs. We spoke with care workers who were able to tell us how they met people's care needs.

We found that care workers received appropriate training and professional development so they could carry out their job role effectively. Staff knew how to report concerns to ensure people were protected from the risk of harm.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided. People were asked to give their views about the care and support they received. People told us "they've just reviewed my care and asked how things were going' and 'they couldn't do anything better'.

People and their representatives were involved in deciding on the care they wanted to receive, and the way it was to be provided, and this was detailed in people's care plans. Assessments of potential risks and hazards, both to people who received a service and to the staff, were carried out, and managed so that risks were minimised.

Policies and procedures were in place relating to safeguarding, staff had undergone training in safeguarding children and adults and staff we spoke with were aware of their responsibility to report any concerns. The provider had a robust recruitment procedure in place to make sure that only people suitable to work with vulnerable people were employed. Staff received a wide range of training to equip them for their role. A member of staff said, 'I can't fault Advantage'..they're a very good, pro-active, professional team.'

The manager described a range of measures that were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service. This included annual satisfaction surveys to people receiving a service and to the staff.