Archived: Allied Health-Services Havering

Updated 24 April 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by 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.

Service and service type:

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to older adults.

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:

Our inspection was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice as we needed to be sure someone would be available to support us with the inspection. Inspection site visit activity took place for one day on 21 March 2019.

What we did:

•Before the inspection, we reviewed information we already held about this service including details of its registration.

•We looked at feedback from local authority commissioners.

•We viewed a Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During our inspection:

•We viewed ten care records including people's care plans and risk assessments;

•Records relating to the management of the service, such as complaints, incidents, surveys, rotas and quality audits;

•Six staff training and recruitment records.

•We spoke with the registered manager, the care delivery manager, the operations director, the chief executive, a care coordinator, a care quality supervisor and three care staff.

•We spoke with five people who used the service and four relatives.

•After the inspection, we spoke with health and social care professionals.

Updated 24 April 2019

About the service: Allied Health Services - Havering is a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care to people in their own homes. The service is based in Romford, Essex and 64 people were using the service at the time of our inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

•People and their relatives were happy with the service they received. The care people received was safe. People had regular care staff who arrived on time.

•Risks to people had been identified and assessed, which provided information to staff on how to reduce these risks to keep people safe.

•People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

•Staff were supported and told us they had received training and development for their roles. Staff were recruited safely and received an induction prior to starting work.

•People and relatives received support from staff who were kind and caring. People’s needs were met and their privacy and dignity was respected. Their independence was promoted by staff.

•Care plans were person-centred and people were supported to maintain their nutrition and hydration.

•People were supported to see health professionals and were prompted to take their medicines from staff who were trained.

•The service had recently transferred to a new provider. The new provider had quality assurance systems in place to ensure the service operated effectively and there was minimal disruption to people's service. Any complaints or concerns people had were investigated by the provider.

•The provider was committed to developing the service and making improvements when required. Lessons were learned when things had gone wrong or following an incident to minimise re-occurrence in future.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection:

This was the first inspection since the service transferred to a new provider in January 2019. Under the previous provider, the service was rated Good in July 2016.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. A further inspection will be planned for a future date.