Alina Homecare - Hitchin & Letchworth

Updated 1 December 2021

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 team consisted of an inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

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 28 September 2021 and ended on 20 October 2021. We visited the office location on 30 September 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since registering. 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 this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the nominated individual, registered manager and care staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. 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.

Updated 1 December 2021

About the service

Alina Homecare – Hitchin & Letchworth is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection, 14 people were using the service.

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 safe receiving care from staff and raised no concerns. Staff understood the importance of safeguarding and knew how to escalate any concerns they may have.

Risks to people’s health, safety and wellbeing were identified and assessed. Staff had guidance within care plans and risk assessments to support them in keeping people safe.

Staff recruitment processes were robust. Medicines were managed safely and staff were following infection prevention and control measures in place, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

People were involved in all aspects of their care. This included initial assessments and reviews, where they were supported to make decisions and plan the care they wished to receive.

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.

People told us that staff were kind, caring and friendly. Positive comments were received regarding staff’s attitudes and their compassion for people. Privacy and dignity was promoted at the service.

Staff were trained and told us they were provided with good support. This is included observations of their practice and opportunities to develop further in their roles.

Quality checks and audit were completed, with action taken in response where improvements were identified as required. People, relatives and staff all spoke positively about the registered manager and felt engaged and involved in the service.

The registered manager sought opportunities to ensure they were up to date with current guidance and best practice. They demonstrated a clear desire to ensure that all feedback received was used to drive the service and ensure that people received high quality care.

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 29 May 2020 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.