Archived: All Aspects Health and Social Care

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection. We visited the main office to look at records, visited and spoke to people who used the service in their own homes and looked at records. We also spoke with people's relatives and staff employed by the agency. If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read our full report.

The service is registered to provide the regulated activities of Personal care and Treatment of disease, disorder or injury to support people to live independently in the community. During our inspection we found that only personal care was being delivered to people in their own homes. The provider may wish to consider removing the regulated activity of Treatment of disease, disorder or injury as this is not required for this type of service.

Is the service safe?

We found that people who used the service and their relatives had been fully involved in decisions made around their personal care. One person who used the service told us 'They asked me what I wanted and told me what they could provide. They were very good'.

People we spoke with told us they felt safe and well looked after. We found that safeguarding procedures were in place and staff understood how to protect people they supported. Staff we spoke with had a good understanding of safeguarding procedures for vulnerable adults. Staff felt well supported by the manager and senior staff and were confident in reporting any concerns.

Is the service effective?

The health and personal care needs of those who used the service had been thoroughly assessed and people who used the service told us that the manager had spent some considerable time completing initial assessments. One person told us: 'She was here about three hours'.

Relatives we spoke with had been involved in the preparation of care plans and reviews.

We observed staff interacted with people who used the service and saw that staff met people's needs in a friendly and relaxed manner. We saw from records that people who used the service had been assisted to take part in a wide range of activities such as shopping trips, bike riding, swimming and walks in local parks.

We saw evidence that the service assisted people to access other forms of health care when required. We saw from records that regular contact had been maintained with other health and social care professionals in order to provide safe and effective care.

Is the service caring?

We visited and spoke with people who used the service. We asked about the care they received. All of the feedback given to us was positive. People told us staff were caring and they were happy.

All of the staff we spoke with told us that this was the best company they had worked for.

From our observations and from speaking with staff it was clear that they genuinely cared for the people they supported.

We looked at care files for people who used the service and found that information was recorded in a person centred way. Risk assessments were in place and files contained sufficient information for staff to meet the needs of people who used the service.

Is the service responsive?

People's preferences, interests, aspirations and diverse needs had been recorded and care and support had been provided in accordance with people's wishes.

We observed that staff responded to people well, by anticipating their needs appropriately. Care plans contained a detailed description of people's likes and dislikes.

People who used the service told us that staff had assisted them to attend hospital, dental and GP appointments. We were also told of many of occasions when staff had gone out of their way to assist with these tasks.

Is the service well-led?

The service worked well with other agencies and services to make sure people received their care in a joined up way.

The manager held regular staff meetings. Checks and audits were carried out by the manager and senior staff.

The service had a quality assurance system, records showed that identified problems and opportunities to change things for the better were addressed promptly. People who used the service told us that the manager came out to visit them on a regular basis and as a result, the quality of service provided was continuously monitored.

This was a follow up visit from the review we carried out during April 2013. At that time we had found they were fully compliant with recruitment practices when we looked staff files to determine if they supported the staff they employed.

We looked at three staff files. We had no concerns in how recruitment was managed. We found that good recruitment practices were followed and staffs' suitability and fitness had been checked. People were cared for staff who were physically and mentally fit to do their job.

We found assessment of people's need was thorough and person centred and addressed their immediate and long term needs. 'I met with the owner of the agency. She understood the problems I had and we discussed what help I would need. They considered everything and we came up with a plan to suit me'. People liked having the same team of carers to visit them. 'It makes you feel better because you get to know each other". Care plans acknowledged people's right to privacy dignity and choice. People who may not fully understand their options or lacked capacity to make the best choices were represented in their best interest.

People said 'I feel ok when they come. They are such nice people. I am really happy with the standard of care I get. I can contact the agency any time I want to discuss things, first class. I had another agency support me before All Aspects and goodness me what a difference in standards. I wasn't used to being treated so well'.

People were protected against the risks associated with medicines because staff had been trained properly.

Staff were described as being helpful, kind and caring and respectful to people and their homes.

The provider visited people and consulted them regarding the service they received.