Alpha May Care First

Updated 6 May 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

This 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 a short period of notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 17 March 2022 and ended on 24 March 2022. We visited the location’s office on 21 March 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two staff members, including the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records, some of which were provided electronically to assess remotely. This included three people's care and medicine administration records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures and audits were reviewed.

After the inspection

We spoke with two people who use the service and two representatives of those unable to speak with us. We spoke with two further staff members who work at the service. We sought feedback from three professionals, including a local authority representative. We continued to review evidence which the registered manager and provider supplied.

Updated 6 May 2022

About the service

Alpha May Care First is a domiciliary care agency providing personal and nursing care to people in their own homes. The service covers two areas, Brighton and Hove, and Wakefield offering support to both children and adults with complex physical disabilities. 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. At the time of our inspection, there were six people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were safe. Staff had received training in safeguarding and how to recognise the signs of harm or abuse. There had been no safeguarding issues since the service was registered. The registered manager kept oversight of any incidents and accidents to formulate learning and improvement.

People were involved in decisions about their care and this was delivered in a way which met their needs and preferences. One person told us, “We discussed [care plan] beforehand, and I went over it when it was written to ensure I was happy with it.”

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.

Staff knew people well and there were sufficient, appropriately trained staff to meet people’s needs effectively. Risks to people were assessed and clear guidance provided to staff in how to minimise these. People’s nutritional and hydration needs were met.

People were respected and consent sought before support started. Staff showed good awareness of people’s individual personalised needs, including those around protected characteristics such as religion.

The organisation was well-led by a proactive registered manager and provider. They promoted a positive staff culture where staff were valued and supported. Systems were in place to monitor and review the quality of the service. People and staff were able to give their views on how to drive improvement. Professionals spoke positively about the partnership working they experienced with Alpha May Care First.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 4 May 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.