28 & 29 January 2015
During a routine inspection
We undertook an announced inspection of Allied Healthcare - Doncaster on 28 and 29 January 2015. We told the registered manager that we would be coming one day before our visit. At our last inspection in January 2014 the service was meeting the regulations we inspected.
Allied Healthcare - Doncaster is a domiciliary care service. They are registered to provide personal care to adults and children in their own homes. At the time of our inspection 93 people were receiving a personal care service.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
We spoke with seventeen people who used the service and their relatives on the telephone. We did this to get their views of the service. Everyone was very happy with the service and said they would recommend it to others. Their comments included, “I’m happy with the carer I’ve got and I’m very happy with the service”, “Everything’s OK. The carers are top notch and I’m highly satisfied”, “They’re perfect. It’s very good and I’m very happy with them” and “I’m happy with the care they are providing.”
People were kept safe and free from harm. There were appropriate numbers of staff employed to meet people’s needs and provide a flexible service.
Staff received regular training relevant to their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.
Staff knew the people they were supporting and provided a personalised service. Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported and people were involved in making decisions about their care. People told us they liked the staff and looked forward to them coming to their homes.
People were provided with appropriate support to eat and drink. Staff supported people to have access to their GP and other healthcare professionals, as required to meet people’s needs.
Members of the management team were accessible and approachable. They undertook spot checks to review the quality of the service provided. Staff, people who used the service and relatives felt able to speak with them and provide feedback on the service.