Background to this inspection
Updated
7 May 2020
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
The inspection team consisted of 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 registered manager with the Care Quality Commission. A registered manager is someone who, along with 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 staff worked with people in their own homes and we needed to be sure the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information available to us since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse. We sought feedback from commissioners and professionals who work with the service, including the local authority safeguarding adults’ team.
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.
We also contacted Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager and the provider. We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s care records and various medication records. We looked at records related to the management of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to receive information from the registered manager to confirm the inspection findings. We also spoke with four care staff, five relatives and eight people via the telephone.
Updated
7 May 2020
About the service
Amna Domiciliary Care Ltd, is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people in their own homes. The service supports people within the South Tyneside area.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission 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 inspection 84 people were in receipt of the service.
People told us they were happy and felt safe with the care they received from staff. The provider had procedures in place to protect people from abuse. Assessments had been completed and reviewed to make sure people and the environment were safe. People’s medicines were managed safely. New staff were recruited safely, and enough staff were employed to support people. The provider had infection control processes in place and staff had access to adequate amounts of gloves and aprons.
People’s needs were fully assessed before they received their package of care. People received care from staff who were experienced and who received regular refresher training to support them in their role.
Staff received regular supervision sessions to support them in their role. Staff supported people to eat and drink enough to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Where necessary staff referred people to their GP, and other medical professionals to make sure people were supported to remain well.
Staff cared for people with a great level of care and respect. They supported and encouraged people to be as independent as possible. Staff knew the people they cared for well.
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 received care which was centred around not only people’s needs, but also their wishes. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis and where necessary changes to people’s care was made. The provider had a complaints policy in place and any complaints had been handled in line with their policy.
The registered manager and all staff had a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. People, their relatives and staff told us the service was well-led and spoke well of the registered manager, stating they were good at their job, they always listened and were ‘part of the gang.’ Staff told us they felt valued and supported.
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 (published 15 August 2017).
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 re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.