Agincare Gloucester

Updated 22 December 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 was carried by 1 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.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced.

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 10 November 2022 and ended on 14 November 2022. We visited the location’s office/service on 10 November 2022.

What we did before the inspection

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 received feedback from the local authority commissions and used information gathered as part of monitoring activity that took place on 11 August 2022 to help plan the inspection and inform our judgements. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 4 members of staff, including the registered manager, area manager, care coordinator, field care supervisor and a care worker.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care records and medication records. We looked at electronic staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 22 December 2022

About the service

Agincare Gloucester is a domiciliary care service providing the regulated activity of personal care. At the time of our inspection there were 9 people using the service. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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

Staff could access people’s care records and record the care they delivered on the provider’s new electronic care management system. However further time was needed to ensure people’s support requirements were more detailed and centralised on the system. This would enable staff to have access to clear information on how to support people and manage their medicines. We have made a recommendation about how the provider uses and monitors their electronic systems to help them identify areas which may need further improvement.

Systems were in place to prevent people being harmed and to manage their personal risks. Staff understood the importance of reporting any safeguarding concerns or changes in people’s health and well-being.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to support people. People told us staff were generally punctual. Staff were safely recruited, supported and trained to carry out their role. People told us staff were kind and attentive to their needs and support requirements. They told us their care was personalised and delivered in line with their choices and preferences.

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 views and feedback from staff and people who use the service was valued by the registered manager to help them drive improvements. Lessons were learnt and improvements were made when incidents occurred.

Representatives from the provider helped to support and monitor the service and address any concerns.

At the time of the inspection, the location did not care or support for anyone with a learning disability or an autistic person. However, we assessed the care provision under Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, as it is registered as a specialist service for this population group.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 4 October 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This service had not been inspected since their registration; therefore, this inspection was also carried out to gain assurances about the quality of care and systems used to monitor and manage the service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.