AQS Homecare Dorset

AQS Homecare Dorset is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of this inspection 90 people were receiving care and support from the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People and relatives told us that the service provided staff who were caring and supportive. People received care that was responsive to their individual needs. Staff had a good understanding of how people preferred to have their care and support provided. People had access to healthcare services and were involved in decisions about their care. Partnerships with other agencies and health professionals enabled effective outcomes for people.

Staff supported people to take medicines safely. We have made a recommendation about the management of some medicines. Risks to people were assessed and regularly reviewed. Staff understood the actions needed to minimise the risk of avoidable harm including the prevention of avoidable infection. Staff had completed safeguarding training and understood their role in identifying and reporting any concerns of potential abuse or poor practice.

People felt listened to and consulted when planning and agreeing what care and support they needed. People and relatives told us they could confidently raise any concerns, and these were addressed appropriately.

There were sufficient numbers of trained, experienced staff to meet people’s needs. Safe recruitment practices were followed, and appropriate checks completed to ensure that only suitable staff were employed. Staff received induction and on-going training and support that enabled them to carry out their roles positively and effectively.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People and where appropriate their relatives were involved in decisions about their care.

Governance systems and oversight of the service was robust. Issues were identified, and actions taken to address any shortfalls.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 14 February 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.

AQS Homecare Dorset provides personal care and support to people who live in their own homes. At the time of our inspection the agency was providing personal care and support to approximately 100 people in their homes.

A registered manager was in post at the time of the 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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People’s care and support needs were met. People, and returned surveys, informed us that care workers were kind, caring and respectful.

Staff had been trained in safeguarding adults and were knowledgeable about the types of abuse and how take action if they had concerns.

Accidents and incidents were monitored to look for any trends where action could be taken to reduce likelihood of recurrence.

Robust recruitment systems were being followed to make sure that suitable, qualified staff were employed in the right numbers for effective running of the service.

Where assistance with, or administration of medicines formed part of a person’s care package, this was managed safely.

The staff team were suitably trained to provide them with the knowledge and skills for them to fulfil their role effectively.

Staff were well supported through supervision sessions with a line manager, and an annual performance review.

Staff and the manager were aware of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and acted in people’s best interests where people lacked capacity to consent.

People and staff were very positive about the standards of care provided. People were treated compassionately as individuals, with staff knowing people’s needs.

People’s care needs had been thoroughly assessed and care plans put in place to inform staff of how to care for and support people. The plans were person centred and covered all areas of people’s needs. The plans we looked at in depth were up to date and accurate.

There were complaint systems in place and people were aware of how to make a complaint.

The agency was well led with a positive, open culture prevailing.

There were systems in place to audit and monitor the quality of service provided to people.