Background to this inspection
Updated
13 May 2020
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.
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.
The inspection activity started on 26 February 2020 and ended on 17 March 2020. We visited the office on 10 March 2020.
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 spoke with six people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 13 members of staff including the provider, registered manager, clinical manager and care staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care 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 and quality assurance records. We received feedback from two professionals who regularly visit the service and a relative.
Updated
13 May 2020
About the service
Allied Health-Services Maldon is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide people support with personal care and treatment, disease, disorder and injury. Some people supported by the service had learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection the service supported 48 adults and children 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. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and relatives told us they were happy with the care and support they received from staff. Relatives felt their family members were cared for safely by well-trained staff, who were kind and respectful.
There were enough staff to meet people’s needs recruited safely. Recruitment processes were robust and personalised to ensure the right candidates were selected for the right people. Relatives and where possible people were part of this process.
People received their medicines safely from trained staff. Accidents and incidents were analysed, and lessons were learnt and shared with the staff team.
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.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
Staff received the training and support they needed to enable them to support people effectively. People’s dignity and privacy was promoted by staff who were kind and caring.
Staff supported people to eat and drink enough amounts and people were involved in making decisions about their care where possible. Relatives assisted when appropriate. Staff gave and respected people's choices. Their preferences on how staff delivered their care was recorded in care records for staff to follow.
Care plans for people who lived with a learning disability were being developed further to ensure these were reflective of people’s goals, achievements and outcomes. Checks were made to monitor the quality of the care people received by the registered manager and the provider. Any actions required were either completed or on-going.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update:
The last rating for this service was good (published 25 September 2018). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.
Why we inspected
This service was registered with us on 18 January 2019 and this is the first 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.