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Archived: Able Care Agency Limited

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Suite 22-23 Sackville Place, 44-48 Magdalen Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 1JU (01603) 624135

Provided and run by:
Able Care Agency Limited

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Background to this inspection

Updated 5 April 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.

The inspection took place on 16 February 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provided a domiciliary care service. Notice was given to ensure that the manager was available to assist our inspection. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed all of the information we had about the service. This included statutory notifications that the provider had sent us in the last year. A statutory notification contains information about significant events that affect people’s safety, which the provider is required to send to us by law.

During the inspection we visited the service’s office. We couldn’t speak directly with people using the service because they were living with health conditions which meant that they were unable to communicate with us. However we spoke to two solicitors employed by two people who use this service (as their advocate), one relative and three members of staff. We also spoke with the registered manager.

We looked at the care records for the four people who used the service. We also viewed records relating to the management of the service. These included risk assessments, and three staff recruitment files.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 5 April 2016

The inspection took place on 16 February 2016 and the inspection was announced.

Able Care is a care agency who provides a domiciliary care service and an introductory service for self-employed carers, who offer a live in care service. This inspection only relates to the domiciliary care element of the care agency. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate self- employed care.

At the time of this inspection the service was supporting four people, three with a night sitting services and one with a day sitting service. During these periods support with personal care and meals maybe required.

There was 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 were supported by staff who demonstrated the skills and knowledge required to perform in their role. They had been safely recruited.

Staff demonstrated they understood how to prevent and protect people from the risk of abuse. The service had procedures in place to report any safeguarding concerns that could arise and staff understood these. Staff had knowledge of how to report incidents of suspected abuse. People and staff were protected from harm as the service had identified and assessed any risks to them and reviewed these on a regular basis. Risk assessments were individual to the person and their environment.

Staff did not administer prescribed medication.

Staff had not attended recent training relevant to their role; the manager undertook to address this immediately.

People benefited from staff who felt valued by the service and were happy in their work. They had confidence in the management team.

Staff demonstrated that they understood the importance of promoting people’s dignity, privacy and independence. They gave examples of a caring and empathetic approach to the people they supported.

The CQC is required to monitor the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and report on what we find. Staff were aware of the MCA and demonstrated they understood the importance of gaining people’s consent before assisting them.

People’s needs had been assessed prior to them receiving a service. People received individualised one to one care. The service regularly reviewed people’s needs.

Staff assisted people, where necessary, to access healthcare services. Staff had a good understanding of people’s healthcare needs and demonstrated they had the knowledge to manage emergency situations should they arise.

The management team demonstrated an inclusive approach to the management of the service and people had confidence in them. They were supportive and accessible to people’s advocates and members of staff.