Background to this inspection
Updated
5 June 2019
The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.
Inspection team: The inspection was carried out by an inspector.
The service had a manager registered with (CQC). 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.
Service and service type: The service is a domiciliary care agency and provides care and support to people living in their own homes. It provides a service to older people and those living with dementia, physical disabilities or a sensory impairment and people with learning disabilities and /or autism.
Notice of inspection: We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because we needed to be sure that someone would be available in the office.
We visited the office on 3 May 2019 to see the manager, directors and office staff and to review care records and policies and procedures.
What we did: We looked at information sent to us since the last inspection such as notifications about accidents and safeguarding alerts and the Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and Improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.
We contacted the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams and the local Healthwatch England. Healthwatch England are an independent organisation who listen to people’s views about local services and drive improvement by sharing those views with organisations who commission, deliver and regulate health and social care services. We also sought feedback from professionals who worked with the service. This information helps support our inspections.
We spoke with both directors, the manager, a team leader, a senior carer and carer and a relative visiting the office. Following the inspection, we spoke with four people using the service, and five relatives.
We reviewed a range of documents, this included four people’s care and medicine records. We looked at three staff recruitment and supervision records and documents relating to the management of the service. This included; policies and procedures developed and implemented by the provider. We also looked at staff training records and staff rotas.
Updated
5 June 2019
About the service: Ambercare Ltd is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people living in their own homes in the Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire area. It provides a service to older people and those living with dementia, physical disability or a sensory impairment and people with a learning disability and/or autism. Not everyone using Ambercare Ltd receives a regulated activity; the Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’, help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating and drinking. For these people we also take into account any wider social care provided.
At the time of the inspection, they were providing a regulated activity of personal care to 76 people.
People’s experience of using this service: We received very positive views from people about the support provided to them. When talking about the service people told us, “I am really happy with them,” and “They do a fantastic job.” Without exception people said they felt safe and staff were respectful.
The principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance ensure people with a learning disability and or autism who use a service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best outcomes that include control, choice and independence. At this inspection the provider had ensured they were applied.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People received their medicines safely and on time and their health was well managed. Staff had positive links with healthcare professionals which promoted people’s well-being.
People said they received care in a timely way from a regular team of care staff. People told us, “We have the same group of carer’s, from my husband’s point of view this is very good. It is really important to him.”
The provider had systems in place to safeguard people from abuse. Staff could recognise and report any safeguarding concerns if they suspected abuse. Relevant risk assessments had been completed. Medicines were managed safely. Accidents and incidents were monitored to identify and address any patterns or trends to mitigate risks.
Staff had appropriate skills and knowledge to deliver care and support people in a person-centred way. Staff recruitment was safe and staff understood how to keep people safe.
People told us they were happy with the service they received and felt staff had a clear understanding of their needs and preferences. People were supported with good nutrition and could access appropriate healthcare services.
Care plans had been developed and were regularly reviewed. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; policies and systems supported this practice. People told us, “I can please myself and this is respected.”
The registered manager and staff team worked together in a positive way to support people to remain as independent as possible and to be safe. Staff told us they were well supported by the registered manager and management team.
Checks of safety and quality were made to ensure people were protected. Work to continuously improve was noted and the registered manager was keen to make changes that would impact positively on people's lives.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Rating at the last inspection: Good: last report was published 1 November 2016. We rated the Well-Led domain as requires improvement. At this inspection we found improvements had been made to records for the providers audit systems.
Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the date of registration.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.