We carried out a review of the data available to us about Alston Lodge Community Care Limited 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 Alston Lodge Community Care Limited, you can give feedback on this service.
Alston Lodge Community Care Limited provides personal care to people over the age of 18 years old within their own homes. At the time of the inspection the service was providing support with personal care to 39 people.
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 felt they received care in a safe, caring way from staff who knew them well, respected their privacy and dignity and supported them to remain independent. People told us, “I always feel safe when the carer comes, no concerns on that” and “Am I safe? Oh yes, no one is ever rude or harsh.”
The provider had safeguarding systems to protect people and staff were aware of what to do and had received training on it. There were effective systems for assessing and managing risk, including when giving medicines, to help make sure people and staff were kept safe from foreseeable risks. There was a thorough recruitment process and sufficient numbers of skilled staff working with people and they received training, supervision and support so they could care for people effectively. People told us staff were reliable and acted quickly to get professional help if they needed it or if they were feeling unwell.
The registered provider had procedures in place for assessing a person's mental capacity in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. 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 staff provided the support people needed to enjoy their meals and drinks and to eat and drink enough to maintain good health.
People's social needs were considered as part of the overall service and staff assessed and regularly reviewed people's physical and mental health and any social needs. They had updated care plans when changes happened. Care plans had been developed with the involvement of the person, and where appropriate, their families and representatives. The care team had a good working relationship with other agencies, the local GPs, the nurse practitioner and the community nursing service. Care staff worked under their guidance and instruction to care for people living at home and at the end of their lives.
People and their relatives were aware of how to raise concerns or complaints and there were systems for their management. The service had systems to assess quality and people told us they were asked for their views about the support they received. The nominated individual and registered manager demonstrated daily involvement in the service. They understood their duty of candour and the requirement to notify us of any significant incidents at the service.
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 2 October 2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.
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.