Background to this inspection
Updated
3 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.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service 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
This inspection was announced.
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 4 November 2021 and ended on 12 November 2021. We visited the office location on 4 November 2021.
What we did before the 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 also spoke with or received email feedback from two relatives. We also spoke with the registered manager, office manager and received feedback from two staff by email.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and a selection of medication records. We looked at 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. We also looked at training data and quality assurance records.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
3 December 2021
About the service
Afya Care Ltd is a domiciliary care service that provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes. The service supported three people at the time of the inspection.
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. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The registered manager of Afya Care Ltd had a good understanding of people’s needs and oversight of the management of the service and development of staff. However, further development of the provider’s quality assurance systems was needed to ensure the quality of care being delivered would be sustained as the service developed.
Staff had access to people’s care plans and provided care which was responsive to people’s needs. However, they would benefit from some more detailed information about how to manage and support people with their risks. The impact of some limited information in people’s care records was low as the management had a good oversight of people’s needs and staff had been trained in the management of risks and safeguarding people from harm and abuse.
However, we have made a recommendation that the provider consider current guidance on recording risk management plans.
The provider responded to our inspection feedback and was open to making improvements to the service such as reviewing people’s care plans and their quality assurance systems to ensure they would be effective in providing staff with accurate information of people’s care requirements and driving improvements across the service.
Relatives confirmed that people’s care needs were consistently being met and that people received their medicines as prescribed. The provider’s electronic care management data system alerted managers of any late or missed calls or any unmet need.
There were sufficient numbers of suitably recruited and trained staff to meet people’s needs. The management team provided care as required which gave them an opportunity to receive feedback from people and observe staff practices.
We were assured that safe infection control practices were being used and that staff were COVID-19 tested and vaccinated in line with guidance.
Afya Care Ltd valued feedback from people, their relatives, staff and other stakeholders to help them understand people’s experiences of the service. The management team were passionate about delivering good quality care to people and ensuring people were safe and their needs were met. The was a clear aim by the managers to drive improvement and to ensure good outcomes for the people the service supported.
People’s relatives highly praised the care being delivered and approach of staff and the management and response of Afya Care Ltd. Staff encouraged people to retain their independence and make decisions about their care.
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.
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 in August 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This service had not been inspected since their registration; therefore this inspection was carried out to gain assurances about the quality of care and systems used to monitor and the manage the service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.