Background to this inspection
Updated
31 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
The inspection was undertaken by an inspector and an Expert by 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 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 a registered manager in post.
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 1 July 2022. We visited the location’s office on 28 June 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received about the service, including statutory notifications, which the provider is required to send to us by law. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service and five relatives to ask for their feedback. We spoke with the registered manager, two staff who worked in the provider’s office and a carer.
We reviewed a range of records including three care plans. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
31 August 2022
About the service
Ansa Care is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there were eight people using the service who had various health needs, including dementia. 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
Records relating to people’s risk assessments and specific health conditions did not always provide detailed information and guidance for staff to mitigate the risk of harm to people. Incidences of abuse or alleged abuse had not been notified to CQC as required. People and their relatives were positive about the care they received and of the kind, caring nature of the staff who supported them.
People felt safe receiving their care and support from staff, and staff had completed safeguarding training. Risks to people were identified and assessed. People received their medicines from trained staff.
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. People were supported by staff to access healthcare professionals and services if needed. Their dietary needs were identified and staff encouraged and supported people with their meals.
Staff were kind and caring with people. A relative said, “The care provider before Ansa Care were not good at all. The staff have a very good relationship with my sister and they work very well together”. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible, and they were treated with dignity and respect.
Personalised care was provided and care plans reflected people’s choices, preferences and cultural needs which staff followed. Staff communicated with people in the way they needed and preferred. Some complaints had been logged and these were managed in line with the provider’s policy.
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 14 April 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
The service was inspected because it is a new service and had not yet been rated.
We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the Well Led section of this full report.
You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.
Enforcement
We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.
We have identified a breach in relation to the assessment, monitoring and mitigation of risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of people using the service.
Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
Follow up
We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.