Authentic & Care Services Ltd

Updated 10 June 2021

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 team consisted of 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 registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider 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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

People who we contacted who used the service requested their relatives speak on their behalf. We spoke to three relatives. We also spoke with the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. These included four people’s care records and medicines records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We reviewed documentation provided. We also received written feedback from five care workers.

Updated 10 June 2021

About the service

Authentic & Care Services Ltd is a domiciliary care service, providing personal care to people living in London.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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. On the day of the site visit, four people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Relatives told us they felt the service was safe. Staff understood what action to take if they suspected somebody was being harmed or abused. Staff knew how to report accidents and incidents. People had risk assessments to keep them safe from the risks they may face. These were updated as needed and used to inform reviews of people’s care.

People were supported by enough staff who had been recruited safely. The provider supported people safely with medicines.

The provider ensured there was infection control guidance in place. Staff confirmed they were provided with enough personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves.

People’s healthcare-associated risks were identified and assessed. People’s needs were assessed before they received care from the service. People’s needs were met by staff who were well trained and received regular support and supervision. People’s dietary needs were met effectively.

Relatives told us staff were caring and treated their family with respect and dignity. People and their relatives were involved in making decisions regarding their care. People were supported to remain as independent as possible.

Care records were up to date, and person centred. People’s cultural and religious needs were respected when planning and delivering care. Discussions with the registered manager and staff showed they respected people’s sexual orientation so that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people could feel accepted and welcomed in the service. The provider had a complaints procedure in place and people and relatives knew how to make a complaint.

Relatives and staff told us the management of the service were supportive. Staff told us they felt well supported by the registered manager. The service had quality assurance processes in place. The service worked with other organisations to improve people’s experiences.

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.

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 10/05/2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration and when the service had begun to provide care to people.

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.