Background to this inspection
Updated
30 April 2022
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an 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. The inspector visited the office to review records and speak to management. The Expert by Experience spoke with people using the service, and relatives.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses, flats and specialist housing.
There was no registered manager in post at the time of the inspection. Registered managers and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. There were two new managers who started a week before the inspection, and they intended to apply to register with the Care Quality Commission.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure the provider or managers would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 8 March 2022 and ended on 17 March 2022. We visited the location’s office on 10 March 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with four staff including the regional area director, area regional manager and two managers. We reviewed a range of records including three people's care records, medicines administration records, three staff records and other records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection
We spoke with seven people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We sought feedback from staff working in the service and from other professionals. We reviewed additional documentation relating to people's care and the management of the service.
Updated
30 April 2022
About the service
Allied Health-Services LTD Oxfordshire is a domiciliary care service providing the regulated activity of personal care. The service was previously known as MiHomecare - Carterton but operated under a different legal entity. The new provider registered with us in March 2020.
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 there were 31 people supported with personal care by the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Managers monitored and reviewed most areas of the service to ensure the quality and safety of the service. However not all areas had been identified for improvement as documented in the Safe section of this report in respect of medicines.
We have made a recommendation about the management of some medicines.
People were safe. Staff had been trained to safeguard people from abuse. They understood the risks to people's safety and wellbeing and what they should do to keep people safe. There were enough staff at the time of this inspection to support people using the service and meet their needs. The provider undertook recruitment and criminal records checks to make sure staff were suitable to support people.
Staff followed current practice when providing personal care and when preparing and handling food which reduced infection and hygiene risks in people's homes. Staff received relevant training to help them meet people's needs.
Staff were well supported by managers and encouraged to continually learn and improve in their role. Managers carried out checks on staff to make sure they were carrying out their duties appropriately and to a high standard. Where the provider was responsible for this, staff helped people to eat and drink enough to meet their needs and to take their prescribed medicines.
Staff understood people's healthcare needs and how they should be supported with these in a timely and appropriate way.
People were satisfied with the care and support they received from staff. They received the care and support that had been planned and agreed with them. People's choices for how this was provided were respected and staff delivered this in line with their wishes. Staff were kind and caring and respected people's rights to privacy, dignity and independence. They knew people well and understood how their identified needs should be met.
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.
The service checked with people at regular intervals that the care and support provided was meeting their needs.
There were arrangements in place to make sure any accidents, incidents and complaints would be fully investigated, and people would be involved and informed of the outcome. Managers worked with other agencies and healthcare professionals involved in people's care and acted on their recommendations to deliver care and support that met people's needs.
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 20 March 2020 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good, published on 6 January 2018.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.