Background to this inspection
Updated
26 January 2023
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
This 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.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours' notice of the inspection visit as we needed to be sure the inspection could be undertaken safely, and someone would be available.
Inspection activity started on 5 January 2023 and ended on 13 January 2023. We visited the office location on 5 January 2023.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we had received about the service, including previous inspection reports and notifications. Notifications are information about specific important events the service are legally required to send us. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals involved with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
Due to technical problems, the provider was not able to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). A PIR is information providers send us 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 2 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided and 2 relatives. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager and care staff. We also received feedback from 1 social care professional and 2 healthcare professionals. We reviewed a range of records, including four people's care records and 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision.
We reviewed a range of records in relation to the management of the service, such as policies and procedures and training data.
Updated
26 January 2023
About the service
Alpha Quality Care is domiciliary care agency which provides support and personal care to people living in their own home. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection four people were receiving a regulated activity from the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and relatives were satisfied with the care provided by the service.
People were protected from abuse. Staff had received training on how to safeguard people and were aware of what to do if they suspected any abuse. People told us they received safe care and were confident that if they raised concerns, the management team would act promptly to address these. People received their medicines as prescribed and infection control risks were managed effectively.
Risks associated with people's care were assessed and monitored. Assessments were person centred and care was responsive to people's needs. Care plans provided staff with the information to manage the identified risks. Staff were safely recruited by the service, ensuring that only staff who were suitable to work with vulnerable adults were employed.
Staff had the knowledge and skills to safely and effectively meet people's needs. Care plans were up to date and reviewed on a regular basis. Staff supported people in line with their wishes.
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.
Staff supported people to access healthcare professionals when they needed and worked alongside social care professionals to ensure a joined-up approach to people's care.
The provider had taken positive action since the last inspection to make improvements to the care people received from the service. The registered manager kept in regular contact with people by visiting them in their homes, checking if they were happy with the service they received and if any changes were needed.
People were complimentary about how the service was managed and told us staff were caring, kind and respectful. People's privacy, dignity and independence was respected and promoted.
The service had good governance systems in place to ensure aspects of the service and the quality of care provided were continuously assessed and monitored.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 9 December 2020 October) and there were breaches of regulation. 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 inspection was carried out based on the pervious rating and to check if the service had improved.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Alpha Quality Care Newport on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.