- Homecare service
Rapid Improvement Care Agency
Assessment report published 30 July 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: 20 May to 25 June 2026.
Rapid Improvement Care Agency provides personal care and support to children and adults living in their own homes. At the time of our assessment, 118 children, younger adults and older people received a home care service from this provider.
We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements 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.
This comprehensive assessment was undertaken looking at all quality statements under the 5 key questions. The assessment was brought forward due to emerging risk. This was because we received information of concern about the quality and safety of the home care service people were provided.
The last rating for this service was good (published 10 October 2024). Following this assessment, the services overall rating remains good.
However, we did identify some concerns in relation to the effectiveness of how the provider operated their governance systems which had failed to identify or address the issues we found at this assessment including, how they managed medicines record keeping, end of life care and reporting notifiable incidents. In addition, the provider did not always routinely analyse the outcome of audits and feedback or develop action plans based on their findings to drive improvement. We discussed these issues with the provider at the time of our assessment who agreed a time specific action plan to address all the failures described above.
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
People experienced care at home that was personalised, compassionate and responsive to their individual needs. People told us they were happy with the home care service they received and felt safe with the staff who regularly provided it. People consistently reported that staff arrived on time for their home care visits and were always kind and respectful. They also told us they valued having the same regular staff who knew what their care needs were and how they preferred to have them met. Feedback included, “I am happy with my regular carers who I feel safe with…I would recommend this home care agency to anyone”, “The carers make such a positive difference in my life…They do a great job” and “It’s the carers that do such a good job with my [family member]. They are brilliant. Always so warm and friendly. They are like family to us”.