Archived: Ainsworth Care

Updated 27 November 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place between 11, 16 and 13 October 2018. On the 11 October 2018 we visited the office. On the 16 and 18 October 2018 we contacted people and their relatives to get feedback about their experience of the service. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of our intended inspection to make sure that appropriate staff were available to assist us with the inspection.

Before our inspection we reviewed information, we held about the service including statutory notifications relating to the service. This included the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that requires them 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 three people, four relatives, five staff, the deputy manager and the registered manager.

We looked at two care plans, three employment files, quality monitoring records and other relevant documents relating to how the service operated.

Updated 27 November 2018

Ainsworth Care is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to older adults. At the time of the inspection 62 people were supported by Ainsworth Care.

Not everyone using Ainsworth Care receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating.

At our last inspection we rated the service good in safe, effective, responsive and well-led and outstanding in caring. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns.

This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

The registered manager is also the provider for this location.

The service was safe. Staff received training about safeguarding and were competent to report any concerns they had. People were supported to take their medicines safely by competent staff that were trained, and received competency checks to ensure best practice. There were enough staff to deliver people their support at a time they wanted. Safe recruitment practices were in place to employ suitable staff. Staff understood the importance of good infection control and wore appropriate equipment provided to keep people safe.

The service was effective. New staff completed induction and training to meet people’s needs effectively. Staff had access to regular supervision and meetings. The registered manager and staff worked in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) principles, staff understood the importance of promoting people’s choice. People care needs were assessed and reviewed. Staff supported people with their nutritional and hydration requirements.

The service was caring. Staff knew people well and staff cared for them in a compassionate way. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and supported people to maintain relationships. Staff delivered care that was supportive, kind and caring. People were involved in deciding how their care was provided.

The service was very responsive. People`s needs were assessed to ensure people received the support they required. People and relatives where appropriate, confirmed they were involved with their care reviews. People received support that promoted their independence and staff supported people with end of life care. People were supported to raise concerns and complaints if required. There was an electronic call monitoring system to ensure people received their calls at the appropriate time for them.

The service was well-led. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. The registered manager was clear about their vision and values for the service and what they wanted to achieve. There were effective systems to monitor the quality of the service, identified issues were actioned. Regular surveys and quality checks were completed to ensure people’s views were sought.