Alina Homecare - Epsom & Ewell

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.

This is the first assessment for this newly registered service. This key question has been rated Good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

People’s needs were assessed prior to the commencement of a care package. The registered manager told us they also tried to match staff with people by asking about people’s hobbies and interests during the assessment process and comparing it with information held on staff. Where people had live-in care staff, the registered manager said, “We do meets and greets on 2 occasions, where we take 2 different staff. We share profiles and information on people and staff to help try and make a good match.” A relative said, “[Registered manager] arranged the package, and it all went very well.” Another told us, “What I liked in the assessment was the way they engaged him in it.”

People’s care plans were developed using the initial assessment information and completed, reviewed and adjusted when necessary.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. They did this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards.

The registered manager worked with healthcare professionals to help ensure good practice guidance was followed by staff. This included the district nurses, speech and language therapy team and the person’s GP. In the past, the registered manager had held weekly online meetings with the local neurology team in relation to one person’s health condition.

The provider worked well across teams and services to support people. They made sure people only needed to tell their story once by sharing their assessment of needs when people moved between different services.

Where referrals were needed to external health or social care professionals these were made by staff and if needed, staff were provided to accompany people to hospital or GP appointments which supported the person in these situations.

Staff told us they felt there was good teamwork. One said, “It’s good. Everyone works together and we make sure during meetings we have a good connection.” Another told us, “All my colleagues are very nice. We all get along and because of that, the clients are treated with kindness and respect.”

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.

The registered manager and staff supported people to retain their health as much as possible to avoid unnecessary treatment or admissions to hospital. This included where 1 person required a particular diet. In this instance, the staff member providing care to the person also consumed the same diet as they had the same condition. This helped ensure there was a good understanding of the need to eat certain foods or which foods to avoid. A relative told us, “The carers all know what to do with mum and make sure she drinks enough and has her food.” A staff member told us, “We watch her eat breakfast and leave her with lunch and then check it has been eaten.”

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

People were supported by staff to remain independent which helped maintain a sense of wellbeing. This included where people could self-administer their medicines, or working with 1 person to prepare their week’s meals in advance, taking the pressure and stress off them as they did not have to think about this on a daily basis. A relative told us, “If there is ever an issue with mum’s wellbeing then they [staff] call [senior staff member] and she calls me.” A staff member said, “I always ask if she has any pain and does she need paracetamol. I check her eating and drinking.”

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment.

Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and their need to assume people had capacity to make their own decisions, and that consent should be sought prior to carrying out care. A staff member said, “The main thing is you assume people have capacity unless you are told otherwise.” Another told us, “I always ask consent if I do something. I may try and encourage her if she declines.”

Information around a person’s capacity was held in their care plans. Where someone lacked capacity, details were included on who had the legal authority to act on their behalf. A relative told us, “They always say to her ‘we’re going to change you, we’re going to raise the bed’. They always tell her what they are about to do and ask for her permission.