Background to this inspection
Updated
17 September 2015
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service and to provide a rating for the service under the care Act 2014.
The inspection of Allied Healthcare Milton Keynes took place on 9 13 & 14 July 2015 and was announced. We told the manager two days before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because the manager is sometimes out of the office supporting staff or visiting people who use the service.
The inspection was undertaken 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 use this type of care service.
Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We spoke with the local authority and checked the information we held about the service.
During our inspection we undertook telephone calls to 11 people who used the service and five relatives. We also spoke with four care staff, the care delivery manager, the care quality supervisor and the registered manager. We also spoke with the service’s care quality assessor and visited two people in their homes to observe how care was delivered.
We reviewed the care records of four people who used the service, three staff files and other records relating to the management of the service.
Updated
17 September 2015
The inspection was announced and took place on 9 13 & 14 July 2015.
Allied Healthcare Milton Keynes provides personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection 15 people were receiving a personal care service.
The service has a registered manager. 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 in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Staff had been provided with safeguarding training to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm.
There were risk management plans in place to protect and promote people’s safety.
Staffing numbers were suitable to keep people safe. Appropriate recruitment practices were followed to ensure suitable staff were appointed.
The service had processes in place to ensure that people received their medication at the prescribed times. Staff had been trained in the safe handling and administration of medicines.
Staff received appropriate training to support people with their diverse needs. People were matched with staff who were aware of their care needs.
People were supported by staff to access food and drink of their choice. If required staff supported people to access healthcare services.
Staff treated people with kindness and compassion and had established positive and caring relationships with them.
People were able to express their views and to be involved in making decisions in relation to their care and support.
Staff ensured people’s privacy and dignity were promoted.
People received care that was appropriate to meet their assessed needs.
The service had a complaints procedure, which enabled people to raise complaints.
There was a culture of openness and inclusion at the service.
The senior staff team at the service demonstrated positive management and leadership skills.
The service had quality assurance processes in place to monitor the quality of the service provision.