27 June 2019
During a routine inspection
Affinity Homecare Cheshire is a small domiciliary care service that provides support and personal care to
older people in their own homes. The service also offers short term 'rapid cover' to people requiring
emergency care and support until long term service provisions are found. 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 65 people were receiving support with personal care.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt they received care from staff that made them feel safe and were confident they were
well looked after. Staff showed a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities of keeping people
safe from harm. Risks to people had been assessed and those identified were managed safely by competent
staff. Where people required support with medication this was managed safely; people and family members
confirmed that medication was received at the right times. Where required, people had access to
appropriate equipment and were supported to ensure their homes remained safe.
Sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff were deployed to meet people's individual needs.
Staff had received a range of training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely and
effectively. People told us they received the right care and support from consistent staff who were well
trained and knew them well. People also told us staff never missed a call and always arrived on time.
People's needs and choices were assessed and planned for. Care plans identified intended outcomes for
people and how they were to be met in away they preferred. People received support to maintain good food
and drink intake and their healthcare needs were understood and met. Care was delivered in a personalised
way and in line with information recorded in people's care plans.
Staff were motivated to deliver care in a person-centred way based on people's preferences and likes.
People and family members told us staff were kind and caring and always treated then with respect. People
felt listened to and told us staff always had time to sit and chat with them. Family members told us staff
were keen to offer them additional support where needed.
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 family members knew how to make a complaint and were confident their complaint would be
listened to and acted upon.
People and family members spoke positively about the management of the service and described the
3 Affinity Homecare Cheshire Inspection report 29 July 2019
registered manager and senior staff as approachable and supportive. Staff felt supported in their role and
keen to implement the person-centred culture and approach encouraged by the registered manager and
provider. Effective quality assurance systems were in place to monitor key aspects of the service
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 (report published 19 December 2016)
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 reinspection
programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.