We carried out a review of the data available to us about Alternative Care Limited on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Alternative Care Limited, you can give feedback on this service.
Alternative Care Limited is registered with the Care Quality Commission as a domiciliary care agency. They provide personal and social care to people living in their own homes including some community supported living houses. No calls are less than an hour’s duration and all include social support such as supporting people to go out or spending time with the person engaging with them in activities of their choice.
At the time of our inspection there were 29 people receiving personal care.
Why the service is rated ‘Good’.
Risks associated with care and the environment in which people received their care and support were well assessed.
Although staff recruitment procedures were safe at the last inspection the provider had reviewed, developed and improved the process which had led to improved staff retention. This was safe and well planned.
Staff understood how to recognise and report any safeguarding concerns they had. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs with no calls missed.
People’s medicines were managed safely.
Staff had a thorough induction and had access to on-going training and support. Training was bespoke to the service and staff’s understanding of their training was regularly checked through progress reviews and reflective practice.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.
The provider asked for people’s consent to care and treatment. Some key information relating to this was in accessible formats.
The provider supported people to access health and social care professionals when needed.
People were supported to make choices about their lifestyles and the activities they engaged in. Staff understood how to respect people’s privacy and dignity.
There was person-centred information in people’s care plans. Accessible formats had been used effectively to enable people to understand their care plans.
Staff told us they enjoyed working at the service, and said they had a good relationship with the management team including the provider. They told us the registered manager was supportive and approachable.
People were consulted about the service they received and were kept informed of developments and relevant issues through a quarterly newsletter.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
This was an announced inspection carried out on 5th June 2015.
There was a Registered Manager in post at the time of this inspection. A Registered Manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Alternative Care provides care for people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection the service was providing personal care for 16 people. The service covers the Wakefield area.
Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns, so that people were kept safe from harm. Staff managed medicines safely and kept comprehensive records to show this. There were enough staff available and background checks had been completed before new staff were appointed.
The provider carries out comprehensive person centred planning and reviews this regularly to ensure people’s needs are being met.
The provider reported safeguarding concerns appropriately and took the necessary action to safeguard people from harm.
People told us they are treated with kindness and respect, that staff were polite, friendly and pleasant.
People told us they had a regular team of staff caring for them, and that staff usually came at the time they expected them.
The provider is responsive when contacted and responds in a timely manner to complaints received.
Staff understand the needs of the people they care for, what is important to them, their abilities to make informed choices and the support they need to be able to do this.
People who use the service told us that they received high quality care and that they had no concerns about the service which was provided to them.
The families of people who use the service told they are very happy with the care which is provided and feel confident that their relatives are being well cared for when they are not able to be there.
Staff told us that they receive regular refresher training, and that they feel well supported by the management of the service.
You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.
The Registered Manager was on annual leave at the time of this inspection. We therefore spoke with the Domiciliary Care Officer.
We considered all the evidence we had gathered under the outcomes we inspected. We used the information to answer the five questions we always ask:
' Is the service safe?
' Is the service effective?
' Is the service caring?
' Is the service responsive?
' Is the service well led?
This is a summary of what we found -
Is the service safe?
The two staff records we looked at contained all the information required by the Health and Social Care Act. This meant the provider could demonstrate staff employed to work were suitable and had the skills and experience needed to support people who used the service.
Is the service effective?
People told us they were happy with the care they received.
We spoke with the Domiciliary Care Officer who informed us there were arrangements in place for people to access other services, including: GP, district nurses, social workers, dieticians and occupational therapists. The Domiciliary Care Officer said these services were accessed through a single point of contact due to the complex care packages the service provided or through the GP.
Is the service caring?
The four people we asked told us staff understood their needs. One person commented: 'They definitely understand my needs.' The three relatives we spoke with told us staff understood their relatives' needs. They also said the service provided was flexible and their relative could change things about their care. One relative said: 'It is very helpful to have reviews.' Another relative said: 'I'm happy with the service. They are very professional. There is a set group of people and new carers are introduced.'
Is the service responsive?
We looked at a sample of four care records and saw each person had a care plan and risk assessment which covered their needs. We saw regular reviews of the care plans had taken place. The provider may find it useful to note that one person's risk assessments had not been updated for over 15 months despite the care plans being recently reviewed. We brought this to the attention of the Domiciliary Care Officer who did not know how this oversight occurred and told us this person's care would be immediately reviewed.
Is the service well-led?
We saw the provider had matrixes which covered areas such as: Training, supervisions and care records. This enabled the provider to carry out audits to ensure training, supervisions and care records were kept up to date. We saw accidents and incidents were analysed and action plans were created where areas for improvement were identified.
We also asked for and received a summary of complaints people had made and the providers' response. We saw people's complaints were fully investigated and resolved where possible to their satisfaction.