Background to this inspection
Updated
13 February 2020
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
This inspection was carried out by three inspectors and one Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to 102 people living in their own homes.
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
This inspection was announced. 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.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We also used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 14 relatives about their experience of the care that had been provided to their family member. We also spoke with six members of staff, including the trainer and the registered manager. We contacted three health professionals to obtain their views. Where information has been supplied this has been included within our report.
We reviewed a range of records. This included ten people’s care records and six people’s medicine records. We also looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
13 February 2020
About the service
A1 Home care is a domiciliary care service which provides personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of inspection 102 people were using the service.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People felt safe using the service and were happy with the care and support they received. Everyone asked said they would recommend the service to others. People were usually supported by regular care staff who knew them well. Staff turned up on time and stayed for the duration of the agreed visit time.
Risks to people had been assessed and staff knew what to do to keep people safe. Recording practices around risks required strengthening.
We made a recommendation about recording information on risks to people’s health and safety.
There were sufficient staff employed who had been safely recruited. Staff followed good infection control practices. Medicines were managed safely. Only staff who had been trained and assessed as competent administered medicines.
Staff received the training, supervision and support to be competent in their role. People were helped to have enough to eat and drink which met their needs and choices.
We made a recommendation about oral health care.
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.
Staff were kind and caring and knew people well. People were treated with dignity and respect and their privacy and independence was promoted.
People received care and support the way they wanted. People were included in planning their care and regular reviews were organised to check people were happy with the service they were receiving. There were systems and processes in place to manage any complaints and improve the service.
There was a registered manager in post who was well thought of by people and staff. Both the registered manager and provider were visible and accessible at the service. A range of safety and quality checks were in place to monitor the safety and quality of the service and identify any improvements required.
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. (16 April 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.