Background to this inspection
Updated
1 August 2019
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 was undertaken by one inspector.
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
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 15 July 2019 and ended on 23 July 2019. We visited the office location on 15 July 2019 to meet with the management team, some staff members, and to review documents essential to the safe and effective management of the service.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 eleven members of staff including the provider’s operations and quality team, the registered manager, senior care workers, and care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three 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. We spoke by telephone with 11 people who use the service and five relatives of people who use the service to gain their views of the service they receive.
Updated
1 August 2019
About the service
Alina Homecare is a domiciliary care service that provides personal care and support for people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection 180 people used the service.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they were satisfied with the care and support they received from Alina Homecare Stevenage. Staff knew how to support people safely and understood how to report any concerns. There were enough staff available to meet people’s needs. The provider had a robust recruitment process which supported the registered manager to recruit staff safely. People’s medicines were managed safely, and people were protected from the risk and spread of infection. The management team shared learning from accidents and incidents with the staff team to help reduce the risk of recurrence.
Staff supported people to eat and drink sufficient amounts to help maintain their health and wellbeing. People were supported to access health and social care services when needed. People’s consent was obtained before staff provided care. 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 told us care staff were kind, caring, and respectful. People were involved in developing and reviewing their care plans along with their relatives if appropriate. People said they knew how to raise concerns and we noted the registered manager addressed any feedback in a timely way.
The registered manager undertook regular quality monitoring to help ensure people received a good quality service to meet their needs. People and their relatives said the registered manager was always approachable and available. The staff team worked in partnership with other organisations to ensure good outcomes for people.
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 24 January 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.