ARCH Care Services Ltd

Updated 26 May 2021

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection looking at Safe and Well-led. We also checked whether the provider had met the requirements of the breach in relation to Regulation 18 (Staffing) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and one Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

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

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

This inspection was announced. We gave a short period notice of the inspection so that we could ensure we managed the risks related to Covid-19 and ensure the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 21 April 2021 and ended on 28 April 2021. We visited the office location on 21 April 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records including people’s medications records, incidents and accidents, training records, recruitment records, audits and policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found and quality assurance records which we have used to support our judgements in the report.

Updated 26 May 2021

About the service

Arch Care Services Ltd provides personal care to people living in their own homes. 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 the inspection there were 65 people receiving support with their personal care.

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

Medicines were administered when required and records had clear guidance for staff to follow. Staff had checks undertaken prior to starting work within the service. Staff were familiar with different types of abuse and who to raise concerns with. People and relatives felt the service was safe. Incidents and accidents were recorded including actions taken. People’s care plans had risk assessments and guidance for staff to follow should a risk be identified.

Staff had received training in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). People confirmed staff washed their hands and they used PPE as required. Most people knew their staff well, however on occasions people experienced care delivered by staff who were not familiar to them. Staff felt supported and told us it was a nice place to work. People’s views were sought, and people felt able to raise any issues with staff in the office. Not everyone was familiar with who the registered manager was. Audits were in place that checked medicines, care delivery, safeguarding and incidents and accidents. There was provider oversight of these audits.

Rating at last inspection: The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 4 October 2019).

Why we inspected

We carried out a comprehensive inspection of this service on 10 July 2019. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do to improve the safe recruitment of staff.

We undertook this focused announced inspection of this service on the 21 April 2021. This was to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, which contain those requirements and Well-led.

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Arch Care Services Ltd on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.