Background to this inspection
Updated
31 October 2019
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 completed by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager, who was also the owner of the service, registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager, manager and a member of care staff. We spoke by telephone with a crisis team social worker who had commissioned ASK Healthcare for crisis support when required.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records (two people who were regularly supported and two short term fixed period crisis support) and one person’s medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We spoke with two members of care staff by telephone and contacted another social worker who had commissioned a service from ASK Healthcare for one person.
Updated
31 October 2019
About the service
ASK Healthcare is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people in their own homes. The service was supporting two people at the time of our inspection. ASK Healthcare also supported people on a short fixed-term basis (usually for a few days) through the local authority crisis team.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Feedback from people, relatives and professionals was very positive about the support provided. People received the support they wanted and were complimentary about the caring staff team.
Staff were also positive about working for ASK Healthcare. They said they were well supported by the management team and received the training they needed to carry out their role. Staff were safely recruited; however, the application form did not request the applicant’s full employment history from leaving school. The registered manager told us they would change this on the application form.
Clear comprehensive care plans and risk assessments were written and regularly reviewed. Step by step guidance was given for the support required at each visit. Professionals said the service was responsive to short notice support packages and there was excellent communication with the registered manager.
Where identified in their care plan, people received support with their medicines, food and health needs. People were supported to observe their faith and attend cultural events.
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 had clear oversight of the service. They reviewed records monthly, audited care files and staff files and completed regular observations of staff competencies. Incidents were fully recorded, and action taken to reduce the risk of a re-occurrence.
People, relatives and staff said the registered manager was approachable and available for any advice or queries they had. The registered manager sought feedback form people, their relatives and staff through reviews, surveys, staff meetings and supervision meetings.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 17/10/2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on when the service was first registered with the us.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.