Background to this inspection
Updated
30 October 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
The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
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 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 14 October 2019 and ended on 14 October 2019.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since its registration. 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.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager, the nominated individual, the care coordinator, and three care workers. We spoke with two people who used the service. We reviewed three people's care records, three staff personnel files, staff training documents, and other records about the management of the service.
After the inspection
We spoke with one health and social care professional.
Updated
30 October 2019
About the service
AQT Home Care Services is a domiciliary care service registered to provide personal care support to people with a learning disability, autism spectrum disorder, sensory impairment, people with an eating disorder, mental health, older people, physical disability, and younger adults. 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 three people were receiving personal care support.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe with the staff. People were supported by enough and suitable staff who knew how to keep them safe from the risk of harm and abuse. People told us their medicine management needs were met. People were protected from the risk of infection. People’s accidents and incidents were recorded.
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’s healthcare associated risks were identified and assessed. Risk assessments included mitigating factors to ensure safe care. People’s needs were assessed before they received a service. People’s needs were met by staff who were well trained and received regular support and supervision. People’s dietary needs were met effectively.
People told us staff were caring and treated them with respect and dignity. People told us they were very happy with the service. People were involved in making decisions regarding their care. People were supported to remain as independent as possible.
Care records were up to date, person centred and comprehensive. People’s cultural and religious needs were respected when planning and delivering care. Discussions with the registered manager and staff showed that they respected people’s sexual orientation so that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people could feel accepted and welcomed in the service. The provider had a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to make a complaint.
People and staff told us the registered manager was approachable and available. Staff told us they felt well supported. The service worked well with other organisations to improve people’s experiences.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (Published 16 May 2017).
Why we inspected
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.