Affinity Homecare

Updated 17 August 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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.

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 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

The inspection activity started on 27 June 2019 and ended on 4 July 2019. We visited the office location on 27 June 2019.

What we did before the 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. 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

We spoke with eight people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the provider and registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four 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.

Updated 17 August 2019

About the service

Affinity Homecare Cheshire is a small domiciliary care service that provides support and personal care to

older people in their own homes. The service also offers short term 'rapid cover' to people requiring

emergency care and support until long term service provisions are found. 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. At

the time of our inspection 65 people were receiving support with personal care.

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

People told us they felt they received care from staff that made them feel safe and were confident they were

well looked after. Staff showed a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities of keeping people

safe from harm. Risks to people had been assessed and those identified were managed safely by competent

staff. Where people required support with medication this was managed safely; people and family members

confirmed that medication was received at the right times. Where required, people had access to

appropriate equipment and were supported to ensure their homes remained safe.

Sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff were deployed to meet people's individual needs.

Staff had received a range of training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely and

effectively. People told us they received the right care and support from consistent staff who were well

trained and knew them well. People also told us staff never missed a call and always arrived on time.

People's needs and choices were assessed and planned for. Care plans identified intended outcomes for

people and how they were to be met in away they preferred. People received support to maintain good food

and drink intake and their healthcare needs were understood and met. Care was delivered in a personalised

way and in line with information recorded in people's care plans.

Staff were motivated to deliver care in a person-centred way based on people's preferences and likes.

People and family members told us staff were kind and caring and always treated then with respect. People

felt listened to and told us staff always had time to sit and chat with them. Family members told us staff

were keen to offer them additional support where needed.

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.

People and family members knew how to make a complaint and were confident their complaint would be

listened to and acted upon.

People and family members spoke positively about the management of the service and described the

3 Affinity Homecare Cheshire Inspection report 29 July 2019

registered manager and senior staff as approachable and supportive. Staff felt supported in their role and

keen to implement the person-centred culture and approach encouraged by the registered manager and

provider. Effective quality assurance systems were in place to monitor key aspects of the service

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 (report published 19 December 2016)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection

programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.