- Homecare service
Rapid Improvement Care Agency
Assessment report published 23 July 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: 20 May to 25 June 2026.
Rapid Improvement Care Agency provides a supported living service to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people who live in their own home. At the time of our assessment 5 younger adults lived in supported living accommodation located in 4 properties located in the London Borough of Merton and Leicestershire.
This was the service’s first assessment since they started providing people a supported living service from March 2024.
We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgments about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.
We looked at all the quality statements under the 5 key questions and the assessment. The assessment was conducted due to emerging risk. This was because we received information of concern about the quality and safety of the supported living service people were provided.
Following the services inaugural assessment, we have rated them requires improvement overall. This was because we found 2 breaches of the legal regulations in relation to safe management of medicines and good governance. Specifically, the provider did not ensure medicines were safely managed because medicines records were not always appropriately maintained and nor were all staff suitably trained in the safe management of medicines. In addition, the providers oversight and scrutiny systems were not always effectively operated. This was because they had failed to identify or address the issues we found at this assessment in relation to the safe management of medicines, staff recruitment and training, end of life care, reporting incidents, record keeping and access in general, and analysing the outcome of audits and feedback to develop action plans to drive improvement.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
Staff understood what abuse and neglect was and how to raise safeguarding concerns. The provider worked with people and their families to plan care and identify risks. The suitability and fitness of staff to work in social care had been checked. People received continuity of care from staff who were familiar with their needs, preferences and daily routines. Staff used personal protective equipment appropriately and safe infection prevention and control was managed well.
People’s needs were assessed before receiving any personal care from this provider. Managers and staff worked in partnership with people and their families to develop care plans and consent was always sought.
Staff treated people with dignity and respect. Staff were attentive to peoples expressed wishes and personal preferences in relation to how their personal care was delivered. People were supported to be independent when this was safe for them to do so. Staff supported people to make informed choices. Information was available in easy to understand and accessible formats.
Care plans were updated in response to changes in the person’s needs. Staff adapted support quickly if a person became unwell. The provider encouraged feedback, acted on concerns, and managed complaints appropriately. The provider cared about and promoted the well-being of their staff.
People's experience of this service
We observed people looked at ease, comfortable and happy in the presence of staff who supported them. The way staff interacted with people was characterised by kindness and respect. Staff listened and acted upon what people had to say. The atmosphere in both the supported accommodation we visited was relaxed and jovial, indicating people had built trusting and valued relationships with managers and staff.
Feedback we received from people was overwhelmingly positive. People told us they were happy with the care and support they were provided with and that they felt safe with the staff who regularly provided it. Comments included, “It’s alright living here. I get on well with the staff who are always around to help me if I need them, which I often do”, “I am happy living here. The staff are nice to me and they make me feel safe” and “I like my house. The staff look after me and are my friends”.
However, feedback we received from relatives and community-based care professionals was mixed. Comments included, “The placement is working well for my [name of family member]. Staff are very good with my [name] and know what they need”, “My [family member] seems happy at the service or at least happier. The staff are nice, but management and communication remains poor. They [managers] don’t always listen to us or do what they say they would” and “The service is poorly managed. Staff don’t know how to look after my [family member]”.