Background to this inspection
Updated
25 February 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 took place on the 8 January 2015. The inspection was announced. The provider was given 24 hours notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be available.
The inspection was carried out by one inspector. Prior to our visit we reviewed notifications and other information held about the service. We spoke with two staff and two relatives. We also reviewed records which included a care plan, two recruitment files, policies and procedures and quality monitoring systems.
Prior to our visit we also contacted staff from the Care Commissioning Group (CCG) and Local Authority to ask for their views. As the service was new and they had not placed people at this service, they were unable to provide any feedback. We also spoke with an individual from the Care Commissioning Unit (CCU) who had placed people at this service and they provided feedback which is included within the report.
Updated
25 February 2015
The inspection took place on the 8 January 2015. It was announced. This was the first inspection of the service since its registration in September 2014.
Agincare York is on the outskirts of the city centre. The main office is situated on the first floor which has lift access. The service provides daily domestic and personal home care, night time care, respite, sitting and bathing services to people. Care may be provided to people over the age of 18 years with physical disabilities or illnesses and to older people with a variety of needs and dependency levels including people with a mental health condition, people with a physical disability, people with sensory impairment and people with dementia.
The agency had 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The service had safeguarding vulnerable adults policies and procedures which were understood by staff. Staff received training in safeguarding vulnerable adults and all those spoken with confirmed that they would tell someone should any aspect of poor care be observed.
The agency was new and only three staff were employed. People were positive about the staff who cared for them and they told us the carers arrived when they should.
Recruitment systems did not follow company procedures and were not robust. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.
Medication systems were not being well managed or documented which did not protect people. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.
People received an assessment to check that the agency was able to meet their needs.
Staff received induction, training and supervision to help support them in their roles although further development was planned in this area.
People were asked to give their consent to any care or treatment and this was done using formal legal safeguards.
People told us they were well cared for and the records viewed were person centred. People told us they were treated with dignity and respect.
End of life (palliative) care was being provided to people and feedback received from a professional in this area was positive.
People told us they were involved in discussions regarding their care needs. Their care packages were regularly reviewed to check that they were appropriate.
People told us they felt able to raise any concerns with the registered manager and we saw policies in place to support this.
People told us they liked the registered manager and found them approachable. Quality systems were in the early stages of development as were some of the support systems for staff.