Archived: RA Care Services

The detailed evidence supporting our summary can be read in our full report.

Is the service safe?

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. Risk assessments had been carried out for each person and plans were put in place to minimise risks.

People who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff had received training in preventing abuse. The registered manager could describe what might constitute abuse, the strategies in place for preventing abuse, and what steps they could take to escalate concerns.

Appropriate checks were undertaken before new staff began work. For example, the service carried out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and followed up on people's references.

Is the service effective?

The people who were using the service had requested care be provided by people of the same gender as themselves, and by people who could speak the same language as themselves. The provider had been able to accommodate these requests.

The service carried out spot checks of staff's competency. They supported staff to carry out their work well through access to appropriate training and professional development.

Is the service caring?

We spoke with two relatives of people using the service. They told us they were satisfied with the care being provided. One person said, "The carer always comes on time and stays for the right amount of time. My dad is happy with the care and would tell me if anything was wrong." Another relative told us, "We have had no problems with the service. The carer is a good person and my mother likes her. She is always polite. Everything is going very well."

Is the service responsive?

The service had not been involved in any adverse incidents with people who used the service, and had not received any complaints.

The relatives we spoke with told us they were involved in making decisions about their relative's care and the registered manager had responded promptly when any issues arose. We saw evidence the registered manager was working with people's families and the relevant local authority to ensure they could provide an appropriate level of care.

Is the service well led?

The provider had systems to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received. This included obtaining feedback from people using the service, their relatives, and members of staff.

The provider had written policies, including those relating to safeguarding and whistleblowing. The provider involved staff in an induction process which included a review of these documents.