We carried out a review of the data available to us about Able Support on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Able Support, you can give feedback on this service.
Able Support is a community based domiciliary service providing personal care and support to people living in their own homes. At the time of this inspection the service was supporting 38 people living in the St Helens area.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People's visits were planned to take place at specific times. Robust procedures were in place for the recruitment of staff. People had a care plan that detailed their needs and wishes around their support. Identified risks to people were considered and minimised wherever possible.
People felt safe using the service and procedures were in place to protect people from the risk of abuse. Procedures were in place for the management of medicines.
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.
The service was caring with good outcomes from the delivery of care and support people received.
People were supported by a staff team who received on-going training and support for their role. People told us that staff were caring and respected their privacy and dignity.
Infection control procedures were in place to minimise the risk of the spread of infection.
People's needs and choices were assessed prior to receiving support from the service. People were supported with their health and dietary needs when required as part of their care plan.
People were supported by staff who knew them well and were aware of who to speak with if they were not happy about the service they had received.
Systems were in place to review and monitoring the service people received.
People spoke positively about the service. Their comments included, “General care is very good” and “Carers are absolutely brilliant. They couldn’t give a better service.”
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 28 September 2018).
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.
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own in their own homes within the community. It provides a service to people living within the St Helens area. At the time of this inspection 50 people were using the service.
Not everyone using the service receives a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.
A registered manager was in post. 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.
This was the first inspection at this service under its current registration.
People and their family members felt that the service they received was safe. Policies and procedures were in place in relation to safeguarding people from abuse. People's care planning documents considered risks to people and plans were in place to minimise these risks.
Recruitment practices helped ensure that only people suitable to work with vulnerable people were employed by the service.
Systems were in place to support people with their medicines safely when required.
Procedures and practices were in place to support people to have choice in their lives. We saw that policies and guidance were available to staff in relation to the Mental Capacity Act.
People were supported with their eating and drinking needs when needed and staff were aware of people’s personal likes and dislikes in relation to what they ate.
People told us that the staff were caring, supportive and respectful. Staff received regular support and training to keep up to date with best practice.
People had access to and were aware of the services complaints procedure. A system was in place to manage and monitor complaints about the service.
People told us their care and support was delivered by the same members of staff most of the time, which enabled them to get to know them well. In addition, people were regularly asked if they were receiving the care and support they required.
People told us their privacy and dignity was protected and promoted. Confidential information was stored appropriately to maintain people's privacy.
Systems were in place for the recording and monitoring of accidents and incidents to identify any trends or patterns that may occur.
Policies and procedures were in place to offer guidance and direction in best practice to staff delivering the service.
Systems and audits were in place to regularly check that people were receiving the care and support they required.
The registered manager worked closely with other agencies to ensure that people in receipt of end of life care at home received the support they required.
A comprehensive electronic system was in place to plan and monitor staff rotas and the times in which people received the care and support the needed.