Background to this inspection
Updated
17 December 2021
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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
A & C Home Care Ltd is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
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
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 or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we held about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority commissioning team. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected A & C Home Care Ltd and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke about A & C Home Care Ltd with four people, 6 relatives, a staff member and the registered manager. We looked at records related to the management of the service. We checked care records and looked at medication procedures; staffing and recruitment; infection control protocols; environmental hygiene and safety; people’s feedback; leadership; and quality oversight.
Updated
17 December 2021
About the service
A & C Home Care Ltd provides domiciliary services to 7 people who require support in their own home at the time of our inspection. The service supports a wide range of people seven days a week. The office is based in Blackpool town centre.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider trained and regularly updated staff to protect people from harm and abuse. People asserted staff skilfully and safely managed their medicines. A relative stated, “Nothing is too much trouble. I would be lost with my medication if it wasn’t for the carer, they are very good at reminding me.” The provider deployed sufficient staffing levels to ensure care packages met people’s needs.
The registered manager was fully inclusive of people and relatives in discussing their care packages. They provided extensive training to enhance staff skills and knowledge. 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. The registered manager developed care plans to ensure staff understood each person’s nutritional needs. A relative said, “Time was taken to find out [my relative’s] usual eating habits, likes and dislikes, and what she could manage herself.”
Without exception, people and relatives told us staff were very caring and went above and beyond to optimise their independence. Staff had detailed information to assist each person to maintain their dignity and individuality. One person commented, “They are my guardian angels.”
Staff demonstrated a detailed understanding of people’s individuality and how they wished to be supported. The registered manager ensured each person had detailed information in their own home about how to make a complaint. They engaged with them and relatives to understand their backgrounds and social needs.
The registered manager checked service quality and safety to maintain everyone’s welfare. A relative told us, “[The registered manager] is a fantastic manager. It’s not a business, it’s a vocation to her.” Staff worked closely with partner agencies to ensure continuity of people’s care.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
This service was registered with us on 01/08/2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the service’s registration date.
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.