We carried out a review of the data available to us about A1 Care 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 A1 Care, you can give feedback on this service.
A1 Care is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of this inspection 73 people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care from the service. 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We have made a recommendation regarding, staff rotas and travel times between visits.
People and relatives spoke positively about the service they received. People received personalised care which was responsive to their individual needs. Staff had a good understanding of the care and support people needed and provided this with care, kindness and compassion.
Staff had completed safeguarding training and understood their role in identifying and reporting any concerns of potential abuse or poor practice. Risks to people were assessed and regularly reviewed. Staff understood the actions needed to minimise the risk of avoidable harm including the prevention of avoidable infection.
Staff supported people to take medicines safely. Staff were trained in medicines management and knew how to ensure that people received their medicines on time and as they had been prescribed.
There were sufficient numbers of experienced staff to meet people’s needs. Safe recruitment practices were followed and appropriate checks completed to ensure that only suitable staff were employed.
Staff received induction and on-going training and support that enabled them to carry out their roles effectively.
People had access to healthcare services and were involved in decisions about their care and wellbeing. Working partnerships with other agencies and health professionals had been formed which enabled effective outcomes for people.
People were encouraged and supported to eat and drink well. People told us they felt listened to and their views were respected when planning and agreeing what care and support they needed. People told us they received their care from a small, consistent team of staff who knew them and their care needs well.
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.
People and relatives knew how to raise any concerns and felt they would be addressed appropriately.
There was a system of ongoing monitoring through audits and spot checks to review the quality of the service provided.
People, staff and relatives felt the service had made improvements over previous months and expressed confidence in the management team. People felt the service was well led and specifically praised the service given by the welfare manager.
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 good (published November 2018).
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.
The aim of this inspection was to carry out the first comprehensive review of the service since it was registered with the CQC in November 2017.
This announced inspection site visit activity started 26 September 2018 and ended 1 October 2018. It included visiting the registered location (the office) to see the registered provider, manager and staff and to review records, policies and procedures. An expert by experience contacted people and their relatives by telephone for feedback.
There was a registered manager for the service, however they had recently resigned and a new manager was in post before the registered manager left. 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.
Everyone we spoke with gave positive feedback about the staff, describing them as being "very good," "professional" and that they received regular carers who knew them well.
People’s care and support was provided as the person expected and needed.
Staff understood the need to gain consent and followed legislation designed to protect people's rights and freedoms.
Medicines were managed safely.
Risks to individuals were assessed and monitored.
Appropriate checks were made before staff started to work to make sure they were suitable to work with people.
Staff told us they felt supported in their roles and had received training that provided them with the necessary knowledge and skills.
There was a complaints policy in place which people felt comfortable using if they had concerns.
Management and quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the quality of care and support that people received.