We undertook an announced inspection of Acacia Homecare Limited on 10th and 11th May 2017. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming because the location provides a domiciliary care service for people in their own homes and staff might be out visiting people and we wanted to be sure someone would be available to assist with the inspection. Acacia Homecare Limited is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care to around 38 people in their own homes. The people using the service were paying for their own care.
This was the first inspection of the service since it registered with the Care Quality Commission in July 2015 after they moved offices.
At the time of the inspection there was a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
There were procedures in place for the safe management of medicines but staff did not always complete records relating to medicines use as required by the provider’s own systems.
Risk assessments were not in place to ensure specific issues related to each person were identified and guidance provided as to how to reduce any possible associated risks.
The provider had a range of audits in place but those in relation to the recording of medicines were not effective in identifying issues.
Care workers had received the necessary training, supervision and appraisals they required to deliver care safely and to an appropriate standard.
The provider had a policy in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Processes were in place to ensure decisions were made in the person’s best interest if they were assessed as not having capacity.
People we spoke with felt the care workers were caring and treated them with dignity and respect while providing care. Care plans identified the person’s cultural and religious needs.
The provider had a complaints process in place and people knew what to do if they wished to raise any concerns.
Detailed assessments of need were carried out which were used to develop the person’s care plan. The care plans identified how people wished their care to be provided.
People using the service and care workers felt the service was well-led and effective. There were regular team meetings and care workers felt supported by their managers.
We found a number of breaches of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. These breaches relate to the safe care and treatment of people using the service (Regulation 12) and the good governance of the service (Regulation 17). You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.