Background to this inspection
Updated
14 January 2020
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is registered as a domiciliary care agency. Domiciliary care agencies provide care to people in their own homes. Access 24 Health and Medical Services Ltd. provide personal care to people in supported living accommodation. This is permitted within the current registration of the service.
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 short 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.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including a director, the registered manager and two support workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s care file and medicine administration record (MAR). We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance processes, staff supervision files and safeguarding records.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and the log of incidents and accidents.
Updated
14 January 2020
About the service
Access24 Health and Medical Services Ltd is a domiciliary care agency registered to offer support and personal care to older and younger adults with dementia, brain injury, learning difficulties, physical difficulties and mental health difficulties. Although a number of people received support from the service, only one person received personal care. CQC only inspects when people receive personal care. Due to the limited personal care support offered by the service we are unable to give a rating. There is currently insufficient information available for us to form a judgement.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found.
Some medicine administration processes needed to be strengthened, however, people received their medicines as prescribed and in their preferred manner.
People were cared for safely. Risk assessments were in place and reviewed regularly and as people’s needs changed. Staff understood safeguarding procedures.
Pre-employment checks were carried out to ensure that only suitable staff were employed. There were enough staff to meet people’s care needs.
People’s care records contained clear information covering all aspects of their care and support needs. Staff had a good understanding of people’s wishes and individual preferences. People’s personal histories, preferences and dislikes and diversity needs such as cultural or religious needs were considered within the care plans. Staff received training to meet people’s needs.
People made decisions about their daily routines and these were respected by staff. People were supported to access health care services when needed. People received support from reliable, compassionate staff.
Staff enjoyed working at the service and there was good communication and team work. Staff were caring in their approach and people were treated with respect. Staff maintained people’s dignity and promoted their independence.
The registered manager was also the provider. They were involved in all aspects of the running of the service. Further work was required to ensure there was a robust and effective quality assurance and audit system in place.
The registered manager worked in an open and transparent way and was keen to develop and improve the service. People knew how to make a complaint if they were not satisfied with the service received.
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
At the last inspection of this service we were unable to give a rating (published 12 July 2019).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.