Background to this inspection
Updated
13 August 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.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an 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 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
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.
Inspection activity started on 5 July 2021 and ended on 9 July 2021. We visited the office location on 5 July 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with 14 people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including the registered manager, care co-ordinator, field care supervisors and care workers. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medication 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 procedures, were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data. We spoke with two professionals who regularly have contact with the service.
Updated
13 August 2021
About the service
Altogether Care LLP- Blandford Care at Home is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. 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. At the time of this inspection, 61 people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care from the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We received positive feedback from people, relatives and healthcare professionals regarding the service and were provided with many examples that demonstrated people were receiving high quality, effective and responsive care from a service that was well-led.
Staff received induction and on-going training and support that enabled them to carry out their roles effectively.
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.
People had access to healthcare services and were involved in decisions about their care and wellbeing. Working partnerships with other agencies and health professionals had been formed which enabled effective outcomes for people.
People were encouraged and supported to eat and drink well. People told us they felt listened to and their views were respected when planning and agreeing what care and support they needed.
People told us they received their care from a team of staff who knew them, and their care needs well. People and relatives told us staff were kind and caring and went above and beyond to ensure they were happy and well cared for.
Care plans were person centred and detailed created with people and updated to ensure they remained current. People and relatives knew how to raise any concerns and told us the service was proactive at resolving any concerns and worked well as a team to improve the service.
There was a system of ongoing monitoring through audits and spot checks to review the quality of the service provided.
There was an open, transparent supportive culture that empowered staff and people who use the service to put forward their ideas for improvement that enabled people to receive quality, individualised care that impacted positively on their lives.
People, relatives, health and social care professionals. and staff consistently spoke of the effective and clear communication they had with the service.
The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
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 12 November 2019 and this is the first inspection to rate the service.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection to provide a rating for a recently registered service. The ratings from the previous inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
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.