A24 Group Ltd - Sutton

Updated 8 December 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and one 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 and nursing care to people living in their own homes.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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

This inspection was unannounced.

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 five relatives of people who used the service. We spoke with one member of staff, the registered manager and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records. These included five people’s care records and five staff files. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed, including quality audits and team meeting minutes.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. For example, we reviewed additional quality assurance records.

Updated 8 December 2021

About the service

A24 Group - Sutton is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care and nursing care to adults and children living in their own homes across the UK. At the time of our inspection seven people with complex needs were receiving personal care from the provider.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People’s risks were assessed and mitigated to prevent avoidable harm. People received their medicines safely and medicines administration was audited. A robust recruitment process was in place which ensured only suitable staff were deployed to deliver care and support. Staff followed appropriate infection prevention and control practices to keep people safe.

People’s needs were assessed. Staff were trained and supervised to meet people’s assessed needs. People’s mental capacity was assessed and their relatives actively participated in best interest decision making. People received the support they required for their nutritional needs to be met.

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.

The registered manager oversaw quality audits of the service people were receiving. Relatives felt there was good communication with the provider. The provider worked in partnership with statutory agencies to plan, deliver and review people’s care and support.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection (and update)

The last rating for this service was Requires improvement (published 07 September 2021). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 10 October 2019. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment, the need for consent, staffing and good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those Key Questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for A24 Group Ltd – Sutton on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.