20 February 2017
During a routine inspection
Allied Healthcare Newbury is a domiciliary care agency which offers support to people in their own homes. The service supports approximately 84 people with diverse needs who live in the community. Services offered include a wide variety of support packages, including clinical care packages commissioned by the Care Commissioning Group and Continuing Healthcare.
The service is required to have 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. There is a registered manager running the service.
The safety of people, staff and others safety was taken seriously. They were kept as safe as possible by staff who were trained in and followed health and safety and safeguarding procedures. They knew how to recognise and deal with abuse or risk of harm. Significant risks were identified and managed to reduce them, as much as possible. The service operated a robust recruitment procedure which checked that staff were safe and suitable to provide people with care. If people needed support to take their medicine, the service made sure care staff did this safely.
People’s right to make decisions and choices for themselves was upheld by staff. Care staff understood how important it was to people to give their consent and direct their own life. People’s capacity to make decisions was recorded, if appropriate and necessary. Relevant paperwork was, included in care plans. People’s rights were protected by staff who understood the Mental Capacity Act (2005). This legislation provides a legal framework that sets out how to act to support people who do not have capacity to make a specific decision. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were treated with respect and care and staff understood how important it was to maintain people’s privacy and dignity. Care staff made sure they provided people with care that met their individual needs, preferences and choices. People’s diversity was understood and people’s care reflected any special needs they may have had.
The service was well-led by a registered manager who was experienced and supported her staff team. She and her management team were described as open, approachable and very supportive by care staff. The service monitored and reviewed the quality of care they offered. Actions were taken to ensure the quality of care was maintained and improved and any necessary developments were made in a timely way.