Allied Care Ltd

Updated 19 October 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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was completed by one inspector and one assistant inspector. An Expert by Experience telephoned people who received care from the service and relatives to obtain feedback about their experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in seven ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

Notice of inspection

We gave short notice of the inspection because we needed to arrange consent for phone calls to people and their relatives and we needed to be sure the registered manager would be available to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 6 September 2021 and ended on 14 September 2021. We visited the office location on 14 September 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with eight people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 12 members of staff including the registered manager, lead practitioner, care workers and administration staff. We received feedback from a further 17 staff and two health professionals. We also spoke with the landlord of one of the properties.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medicine 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.

Updated 19 October 2021

About the service

Allied Care Ltd provides care and support to people living in a number of 'supported living' settings, including houses and flats, so that they can live as independently as possible. At the time of our inspection, they were providing personal care to 33 people in seven houses across Plymouth, Chippenham and Didcot.

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 told us they felt safe and comfortable when staff were supporting them. People knew who to speak with if they had any concerns. The provider worked with the local authority safeguarding team to ensure people remained safe. People were kept safe as potential risk had been assessed and managed. Infection control procedures were robust and staff had taken additional measures to protect people from infection control risks associated with COVID-19.

People's needs were met by staff who had received regular training and support. People, relatives and health professionals spoke very positively about staff’s skills. A relative said, “The staff are so well trained they are brilliant.” 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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. People were treated with dignity and respect in a way that valued them as individuals. Relatives and professionals described the service as person-centred. People were supported to be as independent as possible and there was a strong focus on promoting social inclusion. People were encouraged to lead full lives. There was a positive, open and inclusive culture.

People were supported to develop personalised and detailed plans with information about their needs, preferences and goals. These were routinely reviewed with the involvement of the person and relevant stakeholders where appropriate. Staff knew people well and were able to quickly identify people's changing needs. People had access to health and social care professionals. People were supported to participate in a range of social, volunteering and work activities.

People benefited from a provider who placed an emphasis on delivering a high quality service. Effective quality assurance and governance systems were in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service.

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 on 08/01/2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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.