A1 Homecare Agency

The people who used the service were a family member and a family friend of the provider who is also the registered manager. Both people were in receipt of direct payments which enabled them to choose their preferred provider.

People’s needs, and preferences were met by staff who knew the people well. There were three members of staff employed at the agency. Two carers were the providers relatives and there was one other part time carer.

Staff had appropriate recruitment checks in place to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

Staff had undertaken safeguarding training and the registered manager knew how to report any concerns of abuse. Suitable policies and procedures were in place for staff to refer to if required.

Staff were not administering medicines. However, there was a medication policy in place should circumstances change. Staff had completed medication training. However, this required updating.

Following our inspection, the provider sent us confirmation showing dates of booked medication training.

People were safely supported, risk assessments about their care and support were assessed and had been reviewed.

Peoples support plans were followed in practice. Any changes to the care plan had been amended appropriately.

Systems were in place for the recording and responding to complaints.

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

Rating at the last inspection

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

Why we inspected

The 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 part of our inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

A1 Homecare provides personal care and daily living tasks to people to enable them to remain in their own homes.

The service had registered manager in post who was also the nominated individual. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The inspection took place on 16 March 2017. We gave the service two days’ notice to ensure someone would be in the office to facilitate the inspection.

A1 Homecare Service is a private domiciliary care agency which is currently providing care and domestic services for three people in their own home. The people who used the service were family and friends of the registered manager and they received direct payments which enable people to choose their preferred provider. The agency operates from an office in the back of a mobile phone shop in the Deane area of Bolton.

The service had a robust recruitment process to help ensure new employees were suitable for their role.

Appropriate risk assessments were in place and were reviewed and updated regularly.

Staff had access to a range of policies and procedures including medication, safeguarding and the whistleblowing process and staff were aware of how to report concerns. There was also a system for reporting accidents and incidents.

Staff undertook a thorough induction programme before commencing work and training was on-going and included refresher courses for mandatory training. Supervisions were undertaken regularly and appraisals undertaken annually.

The service was working within the legal requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA).

People who used the service were encouraged to be as independent as possible. People’s human rights, dignity and privacy were promoted.

Information was produced for people who used the service and their relatives.

The care plan we looked at was person-centred and included personal preferences, wishes and needs.

There was an appropriate complaints policy which was clearly outlined within the service user guide.

Satisfaction surveys were sent out regularly to help ensure the quality and continual improvement of care delivery.