AK Care Ltd

Updated 2 September 2021

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type:

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses. In the week up until the inspection, the service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This role is important as it 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. The provider is currently looking for a replacement registered manager.

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 member of the management team would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection:

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

We did look at information we have received regarding this service in the period since the last inspection, including notifications to CQC and safeguarding concerns we have been made aware of.

During the inspection:

We spoke with the nominated individual. We reviewed recruitment records for three staff members, including spot checks and supervision records. We reviewed care records for three people.

After the inspection visit:

We contacted four members of care staff, and received feedback from one person using the service and one relative of a person who used the service.

We also reviewed training information, updated care plans, and policies related to recruitment and complaints. We also received updated recruitment information.

The service received funding for providing care through ’Direct Payments’. Direct Payments is a system that lets you choose and buy the services you need yourself, instead of getting them from your council. This meant the service did not have contact with the commissioners of the service. All interactions with other health and social care professionals was via the person receiving the service or their relatives.

Updated 2 September 2021

About the service:

AK Care Services Limited is a small domiciliary care agency providing care and support to four people living in their own homes with a range of disabilities.

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. At the time of the inspection all four people were receiving a service that is regulated by CQC.

People’s experience of the service

People and their relatives told us they were very happy with the service. Staff were kind and caring and they had worked with people consistently, so they understood people’s needs and offered a personalised service.

Care plans were in place with risk assessments providing guidance for staff.

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. However, care plans lacked detail on people’s mental capacity. This was rectified following the inspection. Staff understood the importance of consent, and people confirmed this.

People were safeguarded against the risks of abuse and harm by the systems and by the staff, who received training in safeguarding adults. Safe recruitment practices took place, so staff were considered appropriate to work with vulnerable people. However, information to confirm some staff continued to have the right to work in the UK, a requirement by law, was not in place at the time of the inspection. We found out of date documentation. This has since been addressed by the service.

The management of the service was undergoing some changes at the time of the inspection. Systems were in place to check the quality of the care provided to people, and staff were well supported in their role.

At the time of the inspection the service was not supporting people with medicines. However, staff had received training in the giving of medicines.

Rating at last inspection:

This service was last inspected on 6 July 2017. The report was published on 8 August 2017, and was rated good.

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

Why we inspected:

This inspection was carried out on 14 July 2021. This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.