Acts Health Care Ltd

Updated 7 December 2019

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

The inspection team included one inspector.

Service and service type

Acts Health Care Ltd is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection four people were supported with personal care.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission; they were also the registered provider. This means that they 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 it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider and registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 12 November 2019 and ended on 15 July 2019. We visited the office location on 12 November 2019.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We received feedback from partner agencies and professionals. We 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. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with one relative whose family member used the service, about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the provider and registered manager who also worked as a member of care staff. We spoke with an additional two members of care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and one person’s medicines records. We 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 staff training were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at further documentation on the mental capacity act sent to us by the registered manager.

Updated 7 December 2019

About the service

Acts Health Care Ltd is a domiciliary care service. At the time of the inspection they were providing personal care support to four people who lived in their own homes. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. Personal care is help with care related to personal hygiene and eating. Where people do receive personal care, we also consider any wider social care provided. The domiciliary care service operated from the provider’s office in Derby.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The provider had taken steps to help ensure people received safe care. Staff understood how to identify and reduce risks associated with avoidable harm and abuse. Steps were taken to identify and manage any healthcare related risks to people. People’s care needs were met by sufficient numbers of care staff. Checks had been made on staff as part of their recruitment to help the provider appoint staff who were suitable for the job role. Staff understood what action to take to help prevent and control infection. Medicines were managed safely. The service took opportunities to learn and improve.

People’s health and care needs had been assessed. Staff had been trained in areas relevant to people’s needs and had been checked as being competent. Staff received regular support from the registered manager and they felt supported in their role. When people needed care with their nutrition and hydration, staff understood people’s needs and followed people’s care plans and risk assessments. The service worked with other health and social care professionals to ensure people received effective care. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their life 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 to people and respectful of them and their homes. People were involved in decisions relating to their care and support. Staff followed care plans and risk assessments that promoted people’s independence and choices and respected their privacy and dignity.

Staff took an interest in people’s lives and experiences when they spent time with them. People had been able to discuss what was important to them when they developed their care plans with staff. People’s choices were respected by staff. People’s communication needs were assessed and met. People had been provided with information on how to make a complaint or raise or concern. Complaints had been investigated quickly and openly and the registered manager had looked to make improvements from any lessons learnt.

The provider had clear values and aimed to provide respectful and personalised care. Systems were being followed to help check on the quality and safety of services and identify continuous learning and improvements. The registered manager led with an open and approachable management style. The registered manager was inclusive of people's, relatives' and staffs' views when developing the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 6 July 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm.

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.