Archived: Authentic Home Care

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, speaking with people using the service, speaking with the staff supporting them and looking at records.

If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.

Is the service safe?

There was an effective recruitment and selection processes in place. Staff received a good induction before they commenced work. One person we spoke with told us, 'The staff are very good, new staff are introduced to me and are shown my care plan.'

We found adequate quality monitoring systems were in place. This ensured the risks to people were identified and reduced, to be able to continually improve. However these had not been fully implemented at the time of our visit. The manager explained to us the service was new and these would be commenced as the service grew.

Appropriate arrangements were in place to protect people who used the service from the risk of abuse.

Is the service effective?

People's health and care needs were reviewed and care plans detailed how to meet people's needs. The manager told us the plans would be reviewed when needs changed.

One person told us, 'The staff respect me and take time to ensure they listen to my choices and wishes.'

Another person told us, 'It was a difficult decision to make, cares coming to my house, but the staff were very good and made this easy and it is the best decision I have made.'

Is the service caring?

We observed care workers interacted positively with people who used the service. Conversations were inclusive and staff gave people time to talk and respond to questions.

One relative told us they were very pleased with the service provided. They told us, 'It gives me peace of mind that my relative is looked after properly when I am not there.'

Is the service responsive?

Staff we spoke with who provided care to people told us they had been involved in the care plans and understood the care that was required.

People we spoke with told us they had been told by the manager if they wanted to change the times of calls or required an additional call that this would be possible. This ensured their needs were met.

One person told us, 'I stipulated the time and length of the call and this was accommodated.'

Is the service well-led?

The agency is new and had only a few people who used the service, therefore the manager was using staff who worked at the registered care home owned by the same provider. The manager told us when they have more people who they provide a service to; they will recruit additional staff to work on the domiciliary care side.

The manager told us she was waiting for all the required checks for one potential recruit and when the checks were returned, if they were satisfactory the person would be offered a job.

The staff we spoke with told us they worked the care hours in the community in addition to the contracted hours in the care home. They told us they had time to read care plans and understand people's needs.