Background to this inspection
Updated
23 February 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.’
This inspection was carried out by one inspector on 15 January 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be available at the office.
We checked the information we held about the service and provider. This included the Provider Information Return (PIR), statutory notifications that the provider had sent to us about incidents at the service and information we had received from the public. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law.
We visited five people and two relatives in their homes. We spoke with the registered manager and four care staff. We reviewed records held at the service’s office, which included four people’s care records to see how their care and treatment was planned and delivered. We reviewed three staff files to see how staff were recruited, trained and supported to deliver care appropriate to meet each person’s needs. We looked at the systems the provider had in place to ensure the quality of the service was continuously monitored and reviewed to drive improvement.
Updated
23 February 2016
We inspected this service on 15 January 2016. This was an announced inspection and we telephoned the provider 48 hours’ prior to our inspection to ensure someone would be at the office and to arrange home visits with people who use the service. Our last inspection was carried out in September 2013 and the provider was meeting the legal requirements at that time.
Advance Health Care UK Limited provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes in Cannock and the surrounding areas. At the time of our visit, 42 people were receiving a service. There was a registered manager at the service. 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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Improvements were needed to ensure people's care plans were updated promptly when their needs changed.
People and their relatives told us they felt safe with staff. Staff recognised their responsibilities to protect people from abuse and were confident the registered manager would take action if they raised any concerns. People were protected against the risk of abuse, as checks were made to confirm staff were of good character to work with people in their own homes. Sufficient staff were available to meet people's needs.
Staff received effective training and support which enabled them to meet people’s individual needs. Staff told us they felt valued and supported by the management. People received their medicine and were supported to apply any creams they needed. Staff supported people to manage their health care.needs and ensured they were referred to health care professionals if their needs changed. People’s needs and preferences were met when they were supported with their dietary needs.
Staff sought people’s consent before providing people with care and support and understood their responsibilities to support people to make their own decisions. Staff treated people in a caring way, respected their privacy and promoted their independence.
People told us they were involved in planning their care and were happy with how the staff supported them. Most people had a regular team of staff who knew people well and had the skills to meet their needs. People were supported to follow their hobbies and interests.
The registered manager carried out checks to ensure people received a good service. People knew how to raise a complaint and were encouraged to give their feedback on the service. People were satisfied that their concerns were acted on.