Background to this inspection
Updated
14 August 2019
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 a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to adults with a range of care needs, such as dementia, sensory impairment, learning disability, mental health and physical disability.
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 48 hours’ 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 10 July 2019 and ended on 15 July 2019. We visited the office location on both dates.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since they registered with CQC. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, care manager and three carers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple ‘active care’ records. 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 policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
14 August 2019
About the service
Acacia Homecare (Stockport) is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care in people’s own homes. At the time of the inspection the service was providing care and support to 35 people. The service covers Manchester, Stockport and surrounding areas.
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 told us they were very happy with the care and support provided and would recommend the service. Staff treated people with dignity and respected their privacy.
People had been involved in writing their own individualised care plans which ensured they received person-centred care. Care documentation was detailed and outcome-focussed. They included information on people’s family, history, skills and interests.
Staff were highly trained and supported by management to provide a high quality, personalised service to people. The provider had ensured they followed safe recruitment processes.
People told us they felt safe. Staff had a good understanding of how to safeguard people from abuse. Comprehensive risk assessments were in place to guide staff to safely care for people.
Staff demonstrated a very good understanding of independence, consent and choice.
The service used an electronic hand-held, system to ensure people’s care need records were always up to date.
The registered manager was passionate about involving people in the community they lived.
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
This service was registered with us on 17/07/2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration of the service.
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.