Care-Nursing Alliance Recruitment

Updated 24 April 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

This 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 properties. At the time of the inspection only one person was receiving support with a regulated activity.

The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. There was a manager in place who was in the process of applying. This manager was registered at another service operated by the provider and was merging the two services. 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 manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 11 March 2020 and ended on 26 March 2020. We visited the office location on 11 March 2020 and spoke with staff and relatives on 12 March 2020, 24 March and 26 March 2020.

What we did before the inspection

The provider had completed a provider information return prior to our 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. We reviewed information we had received from the provider about events which had involved people who used the service.

During the inspection

We spoke a care manager, the manager and a representative of the provider. We reviewed a range of records. This included One person’s care and medication record. We looked at two 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.

After the inspection

We spoke with one person’s relative. We spoke with three members of care staff.

Updated 24 April 2020

About the service

Care-Nursing Alliance Recruitment is a domiciliary care service that provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes. This includes people who require 24-hour care and support. The service provided support to people living in Gloucestershire. The service was known know as accomplish by people, their representatives and staff. The provider took over the service in 2018. The manager was in the process of reviewing the registration for the services, however ensured that people and their relatives knew the name the service was registered with to CQC. In the last 12 months the manager had worked to combine the service with another service operated by the provider. This is to ensure systems and processes were in line with the providers systems. The service supported one person at the time of the inspection.

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 were safe when receiving support from staff. Staff understood people’s risks and had the support and knowledge they required to keep people safe. People received the support they needed with their prescribed medicines. Staff followed infection control practices and ensured people’s premises were suitable.

Staff received appropriate training which supported them to carry out their role. Staff received the support, training and encouragement they required to develop professionally and meet people’s needs. Staff told us the management were approachable and responsive to their requests. Staff supported people with their food and drink and were aware of their risks.

People’s relatives told us staff were kind and compassionate. 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. Staff understood people’s needs and what was important for them.

The manager acted on incidents or concerns to ensure people received care which was safe and responsive to their needs. Staff were trained in safeguarding people and protecting them from harm. Any concerns or accidents were reported and acted on.

The manager and provider monitored the delivery of care and support people received. Quality assurance systems were operated to monitor and improve the quality of the service being delivered. The service worked with healthcare professionals to ensure people’s needs were maintained and they received safe and effective care in their own homes.

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 Outstanding (published 16 September 2017). At this inspection, we found the service was now Good.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating of “Outstanding”.

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.