A&S Rescue Services Limited received a Good rating across all five key questions at its first CQC inspection, with 11 people receiving personal care in their own homes. The service demonstrated strong person-centred practice, consistent staffing, safe medicines management and robust governance, with the only minor shortcoming being insufficient detail in the newly adopted electronic care records system, which the registered manager promptly committed to address.
Concerns (2)
minorRecord keeping: “We found the electronic care records lacked detail in places. However, staff were knowledgeable about people's care needs. We discussed this with the registered manager who agreed to follow up.”
minorCare planning: “The provider had changed from having paper care records to an electronic care records system. The electronic care record system was found to not provide the same level of guidance for staff.”
Strengths
· People received care at expected times with no missed calls; staff stayed for the full duration of each visit.
· Consistent staffing team enabled people to feel confident and assured; relatives praised staff highly.
· Robust medicines management including training, competency assessments and electronic MAR monitoring.
· Strong infection prevention and control practices with PPE provided and spot checks by management.
· Comprehensive staff recruitment, induction, shadowing, training and competency assessment processes.
Quality-Statement breakdown (22)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance, and the lawGood
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills, and experienceGood
effective: Supporting people to live healthier lives, access healthcare services and supportGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their care; respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferencesGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Supporting people to develop and maintain relationships to avoid social isolationGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candourGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood