Background to this inspection
Updated
13 October 2021
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 and one Experts 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 did not have a registered manager at this inspection, however there was a manager in post who was applying for registration with the Care Quality Commission. This meant that the provider was 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 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 manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 13 September 2021 and ended on 17 September 2021. We visited the office location on 15 September 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. 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 three people who used the service and ten relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 13 members of staff including the manager, quality manager, Clinical nurse advisor, care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included seven people’s care records and medication records. We looked at seven 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.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
13 October 2021
About the service
Allied Health-Services Liphook is domiciliary care agency which provides support and personal care to people living in their own home. Not everyone using Allied Health-Services Liphook received a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; 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 35 people were receiving a regulated activity from the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People felt safe and spoke of being supported by a staff team who knew them well and took the time to chat with them on visits.
There were enough staff employed to support people in the community. Quality assurance processes were robust and risks to people and the environment were managed safely. Medicines were administered safely and as prescribed. Medicines records confirmed people received their medicines and audits were completed to ensure that systems were followed.
Staff were caring and respected people's rights to privacy and dignity. People were involved in planning their care and were consulted about the care provided. Care plans and documentation was clear, detailed and regularly reviewed and contained the information staff needed to provide personalized care.
Due to the consistency of staff, they were able to notice changes in people’s health needs.
Staff were recruited safely and given enough support to develop their knowledge and skills to do their job. They underwent a tailored induction into the company and ongoing training to do their job. They spoke with pride about working for Allied Health-Services and felt that the manager invested time in their development and supported them in their roles.
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 their relatives spoke of staff who were kind, patient and caring. They commented that staff knew them well, always asked permission before carrying out any tasks.
The provider had robust quality assurance systems that were effective at identifying areas for improvement and these were acted upon in a timely manner. Regular staff meetings were held so staff were kept up to date with any changes and good practice. The service worked well with other professionals and acted upon advice to support people's health and wellbeing.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 18 January 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned comprehensive inspection; this was a newly registered location.
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.