2 October 2018
During a routine inspection
Abbey Service (UK) Limited is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes in the community. Not everyone using the service receives a regulated activity; the CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided.
The service was providing personal care to six people living in their own homes.
At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
Staffing levels were sufficient to provide safe care and people were supported by a small and familiar staff team. Recruitment checks had ensured they were suitable to work with vulnerable adults.
People were protected from avoidable harm as staff received training and understood how to recognise signs of abuse and who to report this to if required. Risk assessments were undertaken and action taken to mitigate risks where necessary.
Medicines were managed safely. Staff were trained and were supplied with personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and aprons.
People's needs continued to be assessed before they started using the service and were reviewed to develop their care plans. People received appropriate support by staff o meet their nutritional needs.
Staff asked for people’s consent before providing any care. Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), however we found that the recording of information about people’s capacity needed to be clearer where best interest decisions had been made.
People and their relatives had been involved in assessments of care needs and had their choices and wishes were respected. The service worked well with professionals such as nurses, doctors, occupational therapists and social workers, to promote people’s health needs.
The service promoted a culture of dignified and respectful care. People told us that were supported by staff who were kind and caring. Close and effective relationship had developed between people and staff due to the small staff team.
Staff were trained and received ongoing support from the registered manager.
The provider had taken action to improve care plans and had included information which was person centred and contained details about people’s preferences, likes, interests and personal histories.
People received care and support that was personal to their needs and was responsive to their changing needs.
People had regular contact with the manager and reported no difficulties in raising any concerns about the service if necessary. However, people told us they had no reason to make any complaints.
People, their relatives and staff were positive about the way the service was managed. The service continued to monitor and assess the quality of the service they were providing to people.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
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