We carried out a review of the data available to us about Agape Homecare Limited on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Agape Homecare Limited, you can give feedback on this service.
Agape Homecare Ltd is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes. It provides a service to older people.
Not everyone using Agape Homecare Limited received a regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service received by people provided with 'personal care': for example, help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection 33 people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were protected from the risk of potential abuse because staff had been trained to recognise signs of abuse and what to do to safeguard them.
Risk assessments were in place to promote people’s independence, whilst ensuring their safety. Staff were aware of measures to take to reduce or mitigate the potential risk to the individual.
People received support with their prescribed medicines from skilled staff. Systems were in place to monitor the management of people’s medicines. Staff had received infection, prevention and control training and followed procedures when supporting people. People were cared for by staff who had been safely recruited.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and the provider supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the application of the policies and systems supported good practice.
There was a clear management structure in place. Effective monitoring systems were in place to ensure people received a seamless service. People and staff were encouraged to have a say in the way the service was managed. The provider engaged with other agencies to ensure people received appropriate support and care.
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 13 June 2019).
Why we inspected
We received a number of concerns about the management of the service and allegations that abuse had occurred, and action had not been taken to safeguard people. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
The overall rating for the service remains good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
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.
People’s experience of using this service:
People were satisfied with the support they received. People were supported by safely recruited staff who had skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective support. Risks to people were managed and procedures were in place to help keep people safe. People were protected from the risks associated with the control and spread of infection.
Medicines were managed safely. Effective care planning was in place which guided staff to provide support which met people’s needs and took into account people’s preferences. People were supported to eat and drink in line with their dietary requirements. Professional advice was sought when needed to ensure people’s overall health and wellbeing was being maintained.
Staff were caring and treated people with kindness. independence was encouraged as far as possible and staff promoted choice. People were treated with dignity and their right to privacy was upheld.
The service was responsive to meet peoples changing needs and worked well with outside agencies to deliver prompt and effective support.
Systems were in place to monitor the service, which ensured people’s risks were reduced and lessons were learnt when things went wrong. The management team were approachable to people, staff and other professionals and demonstrated a culture of openness and honesty. The registered manager continually sought ways to improve the service people received.
The service met the characteristics of ‘Good’ in all areas; more information is available in the full report below.
Rating at last inspection: The service was rated Good at the last inspection in May 2017.
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection although we brought forward the inspection to see how forthcoming management changes were impacting upon the quality of the service provided.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Agape Homecare Limited is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes who are over the age of 18 years old. There were 14 people using the service on the day of our inspection.
A registered manager was in post and was present during our inspection. 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.
People felt safe when staff supported them in their own homes. They were supported by staff who had received training in and understood how to protect them from the risk of any harm and abuse. Systems were in place for staff to follow, which protected people and kept them safe. Staff knew how to and were confident in reporting any concerns they may have about a person's safety
People were supported by staff who were familiar to them. The staff teams provided care to the same people, which gave them reassurance. Checks were completed on potential new staff before they started work to make sure they were suitable to support people living in their own homes.
People received support from staff that knew them really well, and had the knowledge and skills to meet their needs. People and their relatives spoke highly of the staff and the support provided. The staff made people feel that they mattered and that they were contributing to their own care. People were supported by staff that had undergone a thorough induction programme, which gave them the skills to care for people effectively. Comprehensive and detailed training was provided to staff to help them understand the specific needs of people.
Staff asked people's permission before they helped them with any care or support. People's right to make their own decisions about their own care and treatment was supported by staff. People were supported by staff who knew them well and were caring in their approach. People were treated with dignity and respect and they were encouraged to maintain their independence as much as they were able to.
People were involved in planning their own care and staff respected people’s and their relative’s views. Staff provided care how people wanted it and in a way that was individual to them. Staff responded to any changes in people's needs and supported them and their relatives to access other services as required.
People knew how to complain if they wished to. The management team worked in partnership with people's families and outside organisations to improve the care and support people received. They were proactive with regard to how people's support could be improved. The management team were supportive of the staff team and respected their ideas about how the service could improve. Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service provided.
People benefitted from an exceptionally well-managed and organised service and the providers. The providers' clear vision and values underpinned staff practice and put people at the heart of the service.
Staff were aware of the vision and values, how they related to their work and spoke positively about the culture and management of the service. Staff were inspired to offer care that was kind and compassionate through the passion demonstrated by both of the providers. The providers positively acknowledge the commitment and achievements of staff.