Archived: Allied Healthcare Havering

At the last inspection on 9 June 2016, we found the service to be in breach of the regulation relating to staff training. We found that care staff did not always receive the training they needed to ensure that they supported people safely and competently. For example, we found some staff had limited understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and there was little evidence that staff had attended any training. This meant that staff did not have sufficient knowledge to effectively support people who lacked capacity to make decisions for themselves.

After the inspection, the registered provider wrote to us to say what actions they would take to meet legal requirements in relation to the breach.

We undertook this announced focused inspection on 23 February 2017 to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report of our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Allied Healthcare Havering on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Allied Healthcare Havering provides personal care to adults and children living in their own homes in different boroughs around London and Essex. At the time of our visit, they were providing personal care to 248 people. The provider had 110 staff in their employment. The provider had recently acquired staff and people that were transferred from another Allied Healthcare branch in London.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At this inspection, we found the provider had taken sufficient action to ensure staff received appropriate training to carry out the duties they were employed to perform.

Allied Healthcare Havering is a domiciliary care service. The branch’s office is based in Romford, Essex. The service is registered to provide personal care and support to people living in their own home, within the county of Essex. At the time of our inspection, the service provided a service to approximately 260 people, who received personal care and support in their own homes. The service was in the process of providing personal care to approximately 20 children under the age of 16 in the local community who had learning disabilities, autism or physical disabilities. Respite care for parents of children with disabilities was also provided by the service, which meant that parents were able to rest while a care worker looked after their child, often by taking them on activities or to school.

The inspection was carried out over two days in June 2016 and was announced. The service was previously inspected in 2013 and met the standards we inspected.

The service had a registered manager. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Adults and children were cared for by staff who had an understanding of their needs. Systems were in place to ensure that people were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff were aware of the different types of abuse and how to respond. Adults and children had their individual risks assessed and care workers were aware of the plans in place to manage the risks.

Systems were in place to ensure that people received their prescribed medicines safely and appropriately. Medicines were administered by staff who had received training to do this. The provider had taken sufficient action in response to recent concerns about medicine administration and we have made a recommendation in relation to this.

Staff had been recruited following appropriate checks and the provider had sufficient staff available to provide support to people in their own homes. People told us they received support from care workers who understood their preferences and encouraged them to remain as independent as possible. They were listened to by staff and were involved in making decisions about their care and support. Adults and children were supported to meet their nutritional needs.

Staff received essential training in a number of relevant topics but we were not assured that staff had received adequate training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff were not familiar with the principles of the Act and what it meant when caring for people who did not have capacity to make decisions.

Staff told us that they received support and encouragement from the registered manager. They were confident that any concerns raised would be addressed. People who used the service and their relatives also felt able to talk to the registered manager or the service delivery manager and said that any issues were dealt with quickly.

The registered manager monitored the quality of the service provided and sought feedback from people about the service. The Havering branch was overseen by the registered provider, who regularly kept in contact with the registered manager.

We have found one breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) and you can see what actions we have asked the provider to take at the back of this report.