Archived: Ace Homecare Grimsby

Updated 16 November 2019

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing, so they can live as independently as possible.

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 24 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 1 October 2019 when we visited the office location and ended on 28 October 2019 when we completed our conversations with people.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people that used the service, three relatives, the finance manager, acting manager and six support staff. We reviewed three people’s care records. These included medication administration records and daily notes. We looked at four staff recruitment, induction, training and supervision records as well as other records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We looked at some specific information we had asked the provider to send us. This included details of staff training, meetings and recruitment, and people’s surveys.

Updated 16 November 2019

About the service

Ace Homecare Grimsby is a domiciliary care service providing care and support to older people and younger adults; people who may be living with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder, dementia, mental health need, or a physical disability.

Not everyone using the service receives regulated activity; the Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection 130 people received the service, of which 95 were being supported with personal care.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin

Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People's experience of using this service and what we found

People were safe from harm. Systems, safe recruitment and effective risk management supported this. Sufficient numbers of staff were employed to support people with their needs, including handling medicines and keeping their homes clean.

Staff were trained, skilled and well supported by the provider. People had good relationships with the staff who protected their rights to lead a normal life. 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.

People told us staff were kind, caring and respectful. They felt staff championed their privacy and dignity and encouraged their independence in all aspects of life.

Staff were motivated and dedicated to provide person-centred care based on people's choices and preferences. People were supported to do the things they wanted to. Any dissatisfaction in receiving the service was addressed and resolved, and any support people needed with end of life care was understood and provided.

For people with a learning disability, the service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected these principles and values by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People had the benefit of a service that was positive and inclusive, where the registered manager and a management team, maintained checks on how well the service was provided. Documents held in the office were secure to ensure confidentiality of people's information, and staff respected people's confidentiality when they supported them.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 1 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

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