Alina Homecare Specialist Care - Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

Improvements had been made to ensure staff teams worked collaboratively to provide people with care and support that met their individual needs. People’s needs were assessed, care was delivered with the aim of achieving their best outcomes and support and resources were provided to enable people to live healthier lives. The service worked with external professionals and services to meet people’s needs. Consent was sought and people were involved in making decisions about their health, wellbeing and day to day lives. If there was a concern a person lacked capacity to make individual decisions, an assessment was carried out in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People’s needs were assessed prior to the service providing care and support for them. The information was used to create person centred care plans. Where appropriate relatives and friends had been involved. A relative told us, “[Person] has been supported by them for a year now, there is always ongoing assessment. I’m happy with the support, communication is really good.”

Staff knew people and their individual health needs well. Staff confirmed the care plans and records were clear, detailed and informative. A member of staff told us, “I write the care plans. I bring in support staff to come and discuss the care plans and we do them together.

Health and social care professionals told us staff knew people well and ensured people received individual care and support that was effective and safe. A professional told us, “Yes, they know their people well, they are fantastic. It clearly comes across that the clients know the staff well.”

Assessments were individual to each person and included guidance and information for staff to follow to ensure people were effectively supported in ways they preferred. Staff worked consistently with people to encourage and support their independence.

People and their relatives told us they were kept informed and involved in their care. People received their care and support from a consistent, small team of staff who knew them well. A relative told us, “[Person] had an operation, they were very poorly but they helped [person], the care staff aimed to build [person] up a little at a time. They are really good at managing [persons] health. They know [person] well and know their body language when they are unhappy.”

Staff told us how they worked with people, ensuring they followed best practice and relevant guidance documents to provide people with the most appropriate care and support for both their physical and emotional needs. A member of staff told us, “We help people to have the best possible life they can. We keep them motivated, informed, involved and active. We always ask them what they would like to do and give them opportunities. If I see [person] has enjoyed a certain trip, I will make sure we can do the same trip so [person] enjoys it.”

Staff told us how they worked with people, ensuring they followed best practice and relevant guidance documents to provide people with the most appropriate care and support for both their physical and emotional needs. A member of staff told us, “We help people to have the best possible life they can. We keep them motivated, informed, involved and active. We always ask them what they would like to do and give them opportunities. If I see [person] has enjoyed a certain trip, I will make sure we can do the same trip so [person] enjoys it.”

People and their relatives told us communication was effective. Information was shared appropriately within the service and outside to health professionals as required. A relative told us, “They work well together, they always make me feel welcome. [Person] is settled and they ensure [person’s] health is maintained, [person] has got brighter as they spend so much 1 to 1 time with [person] so [person] has got brighter in themselves. The care staff work really well with the doctors and nurses, they work well with everyone.”

Staff told us communication was effective and they worked well as a team to provide the best care and support for people. A member of staff said, “We have regular team meetings, regular management and client meetings as well. All issues are discussed. I have raised a concern before and I was listened to and they actioned it and got it sorted. I’m fully confident to speak up.” Another member of staff told us, “We have staff meetings every three months; however you don’t have to wait for a meeting or your supervision you can raise concerns straight away. Staff can come to me at any time. Meetings are a formality but staff can approach me anytime, and If I can help I will, if I can’t, I will find someone who can.”

Health and social care professionals told us they had good working relationships with the service. A health and social care professional said, “We have good email contact from them and they always call and keep us informed and contact us when they need to. They respond to us quickly and they are always there if we need them. They will often make sure they are on site so they can meet us which is good.”

Since our last inspection, improvements had been made regarding how staff teams worked together to ensure people’s needs were met. Staff teams worked well together, communicating well to ensure people received appropriate care and support. The service worked collaboratively with health and social care professionals, such as GPs, speech and language therapists, members of community learning disability teams and external stakeholders, to ensure people received effective care and treatment. People’s information was stored using an electronic care planning system which was kept updated and easily accessible. This meant information could also be easily shared with health and social care professionals as required.

People were supported and encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle and to enjoy their lives. People told us they were supported to prepare nutritionally balanced meals. One person told us, “I like breakfast and I like this [drink].” One person told us how they enjoyed their walks and the time they spent at the gym. Another person showed us their garden and how they liked to spend time in it. A relative told us, “They do all [person’s] meals, it’s all fresh and appetising, it looks lovely. [Person] loves all their food and eats it all. If they have had enough they push it away. It’s all fresh and homemade.”

The registered manager told us they had effective working relationships with external professionals. They told us, “We have really positive relationships with the community learning disability nurse, which is a very close relationship. [Name of consultant psychiatrist] we have a great relationship with and District Nurses as well, no problems at all. We have regular meetings to improve all relationships. We have a good relationship with all health professionals.” Staff knew people well and understood the risks they faced in terms of their nutrition and hydration.

Health professionals told us staff responded quickly to people’s needs and contacted them for advice in a timely way. One professional said, “Care staff always ask us and inform us of any issues to make sure people are kept safe, they do a very good job.”

The provider had employed 2 nurses who were able to offer clinical support and guidance for staff when needed. Information about people’s needs and ongoing progress could be easily shared as records were electronic, clear and comprehensive. Processes to ensure people’s nutrition and hydration needs were known and understood and regular monitoring checks supported wellness for people.

People and relatives told us the staff team supported them with their general health and well-being. A relative told us, “If [person] is not well, the care staff are straight on it and get the doctors in, if [person] needs any treatment the care staff get it all sorted and it’s all written down. The staff are constantly checking on [person] and checking they are ok. [Person] may have a rest in bed in the afternoon, they always get the staff to check on [person] to make sure [person] is fully supported.” Another relative said, “I think [person’s] health has improved and they go out a lot, which is an improvement. The care staff are getting [person] to do more to improve their independence, it’s really important as it helps [person] and they feel better for it.”

The registered manager discussed how people’s health and well-being had improved since they had been supported by the service. The registered manager told us,” We look at our clients and see the impact our support is having on their lives. People are happy, healthy, thriving and living their best lives. We are so proud of this.” A member of staff discussed how they support people to achieve their goals, they said, “I sit down yearly with them and review their goals for the year ahead. An example could be to go on holiday or make their own drinks independently or complete a small chore each day such as hoover or support to cook a meal and help them keeping their home clean.”

Staff supported people with clear goals and outcomes. These were individual for each person and ensured people were left with a sense of well-being and achievement. Goals and outcomes were based around what was most important for people in their daily lives and ensured people were given as much choice as possible.

People told us they were treated with respect and supported to live their lives how they chose. Consent was sought from people and where necessary in accordance with the MCA. A relative told us, “Staff always check and make sure [person] is happy and gain their consent before doing anything. [Person] now chooses their own clothes and they always give [person] choices, it’s really good.”

The registered manager and staff had a comprehensive understanding of the principles of the MCA. Staff had received training and discussed the importance of asking consent before providing care for people. A member of staff told us, “We help to maintain their independence with their support. They will always tell us what they want to do, they choose all their meals and when they want to go to bed and when they get up. It’s very relaxed.”

A clear process was in place to carry out MCA assessments where required. MCA assessments had been completed for individual decisions. Care was planned in the persons best interest in the least restrictive way and in consultation with those important to the person.