Background to this inspection
Updated
20 April 2022
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.
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 had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
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 21 March 2022 and ended on 23 March 2022. We visited the location’s office on 21 March 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since registering. 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 (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
During the inspection we spoke with two people and two relatives. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, quality manager and care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s support records and medication records. We reviewed four staff records in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
20 April 2022
About the service
Alina Homecare Maldon and Chelmsford provides personal care and support to people who require assistance in their own home. At the time of our inspection five people were being supported by the service. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People described positive experiences using the service. One person said, “The staff are very polite and friendly.” A relative said, “My parents are very happy, they have regular care workers and they are very good.”
Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were cared for and supported by staff who had received the appropriate training. Staff were employed following the appropriate recruitment checks. There were systems in place to minimise the risk of infection and to learn lessons from accidents and incidents. There were safe medication procedures for staff to follow.
Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences of care, staff promoted people’s independence.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.
People were supported to eat and drink enough to ensure they maintained a balanced diet. People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. The registered manager had policies in place to respond to complaints. Support could be provided to people at the end of their life.
The provider had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
This service was registered with us on 24 February 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.