- Homecare service
A & T (Salisbury) Ltd
Assessment report published 25 June 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 27 February to 7 March 2025. The service is a domiciliary care agency (DCA) providing support to people in their own homes. At the time of the assessment there were 26 people using the service. We undertook this assessment as it had an aged rating. Leaders ensured there was no expansion of the agency, so they were able to provide people’s support on a day-to-day basis. However, this meant there was less focus on management systems and responsibilities, and shortfalls were identified. These shortfalls constituted a breach of regulation regarding governance and related to record keeping particularly with care planning, risk management and the management of people’s medicines. There was also a breach of regulation regarding risk management. This included shortfalls in identifying, assessing and mitigating risks people faced. Leaders were supported by a small team of established bank staff, which meant there were always enough staff. All had strong values and promoted people’s rights to privacy, choice and independence. Leaders undertook a detailed assessment, before a new person was offered a service. People received personalised support, based on their needs and preferences. There was a supportive culture, and staff were confident in raising any concerns. Leaders confirmed concerns or amendments to support were always addressed but records did not evidence this. Staff received training, were well supported and had supervisions. All staff felt well supported and were complimentary about leaders.
People's experience of this service
People were complimentary about leaders and the service they received. They enjoyed the consistency of leaders supporting them, and said the service was reliable, as they were always on time.
People told us they received individualised support based on their needs and preferences. They were able to ask leaders what they wanted, and this was followed. People told us they were treated with kindness and compassion and always felt safe with leaders. They said their rights to choice and independence were promoted and they were able to make decisions about their support. People knew how to raise a concern, and said if needed, they would do this informally through general conversation.
People were happy with how staff managed the risk of infection and said their uniforms were always clean.