Background to this inspection
Updated
17 December 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place on 21 and 22 November 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be available to assist with our inspection. At the time of the inspection the service was providing support to 24 people, both children and adults in their own homes.
The inspection team consisted of an Inspector and an expert by experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Prior to and after the inspection, we reviewed previous inspection reports and other information we held about the home including notifications. Notifications are changes or events that occur at the service which the provider has a legal duty to inform us about.
Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the completed PIR and used this to inform our inspection.
We sent out 113 questionnaires to people who used the service, relatives and friends, staff and community professionals. We received 47 responses from those who knew the service. We spoke with 10 staff, the registered manager, two relatives and four people
We reviewed a range of records about people’s care and how the service was managed. These included care records for four people, medicine administration record (MAR) sheets and other records relating to the management of the service. We examined staff training records and support and employment records for three staff. Other documents we viewed included quality assurance audits, minutes of meetings with staff, and incident reports amongst others.
Updated
17 December 2016
This announced inspection took place on the 21 and 22 November 2016. The previous inspection of this service took place in June 2014 where it was found to be compliant with the regulations.
Amegreen Complex Homecare is a domiciliary care service that supports adults and children in their own homes. They also provide specialist care to people who have complex medical needs. At the time of our inspection 24 people were using the service.
The service had a registered manager in place. 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.
People told us they felt safe using the service. The provider had systems in place to assess the risks to people and their environment. Where risks were identified these had been minimised. The risks to people, staff and families were kept under constant review.
There were sufficient numbers of staff to ensure people’s needs were met. Plans were in place to recruit additional staff to ensure there was sufficient cover in the absence of permanent staff. This was important due to the complex needs of some people using the service.
Staff were suitably trained and the training was monitored and kept up to date to ensure people received appropriate and safe care. Staff received training in how to safeguard people from abuse. They knew the indicators of abuse and how to report concerns. Where people required assistance with medicines, these were administered by trained staff. Specialist training was available to staff in areas such as tracheostomy care and ventilation. Competency checks were carried out on staff to make sure they were practicing correctly. This ensured staff had the necessary skills to care for people safely.
Staff were supported through supervision, appraisals, team meetings and training. They spoke positively about the support they received from the registered manager and the senior staff.
Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how this influenced their work with people.
Staff were described as caring, friendly and loving. It was clear positive relationships had been built between people and staff. Staff knew how to encourage people to be as independent as possible and understood the benefits of this on people’s wellbeing. Communication between staff and people was positive. People gave examples of how staff had worked over and above the expected time to support them in times of need.
Comprehensive assessments took place prior to care being offered. Care plans reflected people’s needs. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s needs and also about their preferences and how they wished care to be provided.
People knew how to raise a complaint. People told us that when they had raised an issue with the provider it had been dealt with quickly and appropriately. People were also able to feedback to the provider about the quality of care provided.
The service was well managed. Systems were in place to review the service and make improvements where necessary. The registered manager supported staff and made themselves available to assist them individually or to work with people when needed. Staff understood the aim of the service and worked together to accomplish providing good quality and effective care.
The registered manager kept up to date with current practice and implemented this within the current service provision.