Background to this inspection
Updated
20 August 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. 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 homes.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service three working days’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a relatively small service and we needed to be sure the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. We also had to adjust the originally planned dates of the inspection due to both the registered manager’s and inspector’s availability.
Inspection activity started on 4 July 2019 with telephone calls to people supported and staff and ended on 5 July 2019 when we visited the service’s office.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection and we sought feedback from local authorities 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 three people supported by the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, quality and safety lead, nurses, recruitment and administration lead and carers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two 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
20 August 2019
About the service
AMG Nursing and Care Services - Wolverhampton is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care and support to adults and children in their own homes. At the time of our inspection the service was supporting 44 people with a wide range of care and support needs, including people who have learning disabilities.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were protected from the risk of abuse and all the people we spoke with told us they felt safe with the staff and trusted them. One person commented, “I have a small team of regular staff. We get on well, I trust them, and they know me and how to support me.”
People’s needs and choices were thoroughly assessed by skilled staff before they were supported by the service. Their needs were then met by staff who received regular training that enabled them to support people safely and effectively.
People told us staff were always respectful, kind and caring with them. One relative said, “They go above and beyond. They’re incredible people, we’d definitely recommend them to others.”
People’s care plans were person-centred, regularly reviewed and reflected the needs of the people supported by the service. People and their relatives were involved in the care planning and review process and told us they felt ‘listened to’ by staff.
People told us they felt the service was well-led and they had a positive relationship with the registered manager and other office-based staff. One person commented, “We get on really well with [registered manager], they’re brilliant, absolutely responsive and really on the ball.”
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.
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated good (12 January 2017).
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.