Background to this inspection
Updated
15 April 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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention, safe care and treatment, recruitment, how the service kept people safe from harm and overall governance of the service.
Inspection team
This inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Service and service type
Allerton C&S GL is a is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. A registered manager and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. A manager had been appointed and had begun their registration with CQC during this inspection.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours' notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 10 March 2021 and ended on 17 March 2021.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided, the manager, team leader and two staff members. We observed staff supporting people and reviewed a range of records. This included medicine records, care records and further records relating to the quality assurance of the service, including accident and incidents.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We reviewed two people's care records and reviewed a range of documents relating to the management of the service.
Updated
15 April 2021
About the service
Allerton C&S GL provides domiciliary care services to people who require care and support in their own homes. The service provides personal care as part of a reablement service to enable people to regain independence. Not everyone who uses the service may receive personal care. The Care Quality Commission (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 the inspection the service was providing personal care to 2 people.
Adwell Supported Living changed its company name on 24 March 2021 to Allerton C&S GL. The location was previously registered at office 1.39, building 2, Croxley Business Park, Watford, WD18 8YA. The address changed to 49 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1HP on 24 March 2021 during this inspection.
People's experience of using the service and what we found.
People were protected from harm and abuse, however we found one serious incident that had not been robustly investigated. Staff knowledge about reporting their concerns outside of the organisation was variable. Learning from incidents was not fully embedded into staff practise.
Individual risks were assessed to help keep people safe and reviewed as people’s needs changed. However, we found for one person decisions taken to monitor their safety impeded their privacy.
People were not assessed or supported to manage their medicines independently.
People felt safe and were happy with the care provided to them. People were referred to health professionals when needed and this guidance was followed.
Systems and processes in place to monitor and oversee the quality of care people received were not always effective. Audits and checks of the service were not routinely completed.
Arrangements were in place to prevent and control the spread of infections
People were not supported by sufficient numbers of staff who knew them well. Staff were employed following the required staff recruitment checks being completed.
People and staff were positive about the support given to them by the provider and newly employed manager.
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 Good
Why we inspected
We received concerns in relation to people not receiving safe care and a lack of management and oversight. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions Safe and Well-Led only.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
The overall rating for the service has changed from Good to Requires Improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvement. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.
You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Allerton C&S GL on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.