Care Quality Services North East

Updated 3 August 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

An inspector and an Expert by Experience carried out this inspection. 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 is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. A new manager had been appointed in the weeks before our inspection and had applied to the Care Quality Commission for registration.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 28 June 2022 and ended on 13 July 2022. We visited the location’s office on 28 June 2022.

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. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people's care records and three medicine administration records. We spoke with 8 members of staff, including the manager and support staff.

Updated 3 August 2022

About the service

Allied Health-Services LTD Durham is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people in their own home. The service provides support to people, including children, with physical disabilities, sensory impairments and mental health support needs. At the time of our inspection there were 11 people using the service.

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 were happy with the support they received and spoke positively about staff. Relatives said staff were caring and kind. People were supported to express their views on the service.

Risks to people were assessed and action taken to keep them safe. Medicines were safely managed. Staffing levels were monitored to ensure people received safe and consistent support. The provider had effective infection prevention and control systems in place.

Staff received regular training, supervision and appraisal. 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. Staff worked effectively with external professionals to ensure people received the support they wanted and needed.

Support was personalised and based on people’s assessed needs and preferences. Systems ensured staff were informed of any changes in people’s needs or choices. Staff were effective at communicating with people and helping them make their voice heard.

Systems were in place to monitor and improve standards at the service. Feedback was sought and valued. The provider promoted continuous learning and development.

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 11 February 2021 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service at the previous premises was good, published on 2 March 2020.

Why we inspected

The service was inspected to give it a rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.