27 September 2022
During a routine inspection
A&A Consulting Limited, which is based at 10 Harley Street, provides a nurse-led alcohol detoxification service for people in their own homes.
We rated this service as requires improvement.
The service was not working with any clients and there had been only one recent client.
We found the following areas where improvement was needed:
- The service did not have adequate governance arrangements in place and did not display an understanding of what was required. Without good governance systems and appropriate policies in place, a service cannot monitor the delivery of quality care or continuously improve the quality of their services. We saw poor governance arrangements in relation to the recording of safe staff recruitment, lone working, transportation of medicines and information containing personal information, ensuring detailed care records and the proper maintenance of medical equipment used in care.
- The service did not evidence that they made reasonable effort to gather necessary information from a clients GP before starting treatment. This meant all physical health risks may not be known to the staff in order to inform safe treatment.
- Care and treatment records did not include all necessary information relating to the patient’s care. For example, reason for the admission, relapse prevention plans or evidence of daily physical health checks.
- There was no system in place to support patients to make a complaint and no information available about how to do this.
We found the following areas of good practice:
- The registered manager accessed criminal record check information when he employed someone, in line with safe recruitment practices.
- There were clear inclusion and exclusion criteria for clients who wanted to access treatment from the service.
- The client we spoke with described compassion and kindness from the service and felt well-informed about their treatment plan.