Background to this inspection
Updated
19 February 2019
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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team: One inspector, an assistant inspector and an expert by experience, specialising in care for older people, carried out the inspection. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of service.
The provider for this service is an individual owner. Unlike a registered company, they are not required by law to have a separate registered manager, unless they do not have the skills and experience to manage the service themselves. The provider for Advanced Care, undertook all of the day to day management tasks and had regulatory responsibility for the service.
Service and service type: Advanced Care is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes, including, older people, younger adults, people with mental health problems, physical and learning disabilities, sensory impairment and people living with dementia. CQC regulates the personal care provided.
Notice of inspection: This comprehensive inspection took place on 5 February 2019. The inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours' notice of the inspection because we needed to be sure the provider and staff would be available to speak with us.
What we did: Prior to the inspection, we looked at the information we held about the service and used this to help us plan our inspection. This included information the provider must notify us about, such as allegations of abuse. We also considered the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection we spoke with:
• 14 people.
• Two relatives of people.
• The provider, a care co-ordinator, three care staff and two office staff.
We looked at:
• Four people’s care records, including risk assessments and medicine records.
• Three staff personnel files, including recruitment, induction and training records.
• Staff work programmes and allocation sheets.
• Records of accidents, incidents and complaints.
• Management audits and checks.
Updated
19 February 2019
About the service: Advanced Care is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes, including, older people, younger adults, people with mental health problems, physical and learning disabilities, sensory impairment and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection approximately 130 people received care and support from this service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
People’s experience of using this service:
• People’s needs were assessed to ensure they could be met by the service.
• People received their care calls from staff they knew who were caring, helpful and friendly.
• Care calls were consistently provided at the times people expected and for the length of time agreed.
• People felt safe and were protected from avoidable harm.
• Staff knew about the risks associated with people’s care and understood how to keep people safe.
• Staff followed best practice guidance in relation to the prevention and control of infection and supported people to take their medicines safely.
• People received information about the service in a way they could understand and chose how to live their lives in the least restrictive way possible.
• Staff were recruited safely and received the support and training they needed to be effective in their roles.
• Staff respected people’s rights to privacy and dignity and promoted their independence.
• Where needed people were supported to meet their nutritional needs and to maintain their health and well-being.
• The provider had developed good relationships with health and social care professionals which assisted in improving outcomes for people.
• People were involved in planning and agreeing their care. Most care plans contained the information staff needed to provide personalised care.
• The service had received positive feedback from people and relatives who were very satisfied with the care they received and the way the service was managed.
• Systems were in place to manage and respond to any complaints or any concerns raised.
• The providers quality assurance systems supported the service to continually improve. Lessons were learnt when things had gone wrong.
• The provider was investing in new technologies to further improve outcomes for people.
At this inspection we found the evidence supported a rating of 'Good' in all areas. More information in 'Detailed Findings' below.
Rating at last inspection: Good (The last report was published on 25 February 2016).
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the date and the rating of the previous inspection.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.