Background to this inspection
Updated
6 February 2020
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 an 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 is required to have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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. There was no registered manager at this inspection. The last registered manager had been promoted into a different role. A new manager was in post and had started the process to become registered manager with CQC.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 14 January 2020 and ended on 15 January 2020. We visited the office location on both days.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service on the telephone and visited two people in their own homes. We spoke with members of staff including the provider, the new manager, the regional manager, case officers and five support staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
6 February 2020
About the service
Amore Social Care is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. The service caters for children (13-18), younger adults and older people with needs relating to dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and mental health. Not everyone using Amore Social Care 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 the inspection 10 people were receiving personal care.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People received the care and support when required and at their preferred times and were supported to follow their interests and take part in activities in their local community. Staff with similar interests supported people wherever possible. People who received a service said this was important to them; one person described their support worker as “Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.”
Staff had been recruited safely and were specifically recruited to work with a person. Where possible the person was involved in the recruitment and interview process. Staff were supported through induction, regular supervision and ongoing training relevant for their role.
People's needs were assessed before they started using the service. People had personalised support plans in place, which identified what people could do for themselves and where staff support was needed.
People were supported to maintain good health and wellbeing by accessing healthcare when needed. Staff accompanied people to appointments when required.
People made their own choices about what they ate and drank and were supported by staff with meal preparation; staff ensured people had enough to eat and drink.
People were involved in planning their support. Regular meetings took place for staff and people using the service, to listen to their suggestions and include them in the development of their care.
Managers and staff at Amore worked closely with social care and health care professionals. Feedback received was positive.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 12/2/2019) and there were two breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This 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 per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.