AQS Homecare Dorset is a domiciliary care service providing a regulated activity of personal care. The service was providing personal care and support to people in their own homes. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only assesses 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. At the time of the assessment there were 37 people receiving personal care from the service. The assessment took place on 23 and 24 January 2025. We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to these people. The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the principles of right support, right care, right culture. People were protected from avoidable harm. Staff were knowledgeable regarding reporting potential abuse and safeguarding referrals were made. People received care that was responsive to their individual needs. Risks to people were identified, assessed and reviewed which enabled staff to support people safely and effectively. Sufficient levels of staff had been recruited safely and had the necessary skills, experience and training to support people safely. People felt listened to and staff felt supported in their roles. Staff had a comprehensive understanding of how people preferred to have their care and support provided. The service was working within the principles of The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People were provided with person-centred support. Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and patience and ensured people were given choice in how they received their care and support.
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AQS Homecare Dorset was rated Good across all five key questions at the inspection carried out in December 2016 and January 2017. The service demonstrated safe medication management, robust recruitment, person-centred care planning, and a positive, well-led culture with effective quality assurance systems.
Strengths
· People felt safe and trusted their care workers, with some receiving a service from the agency for over ten years.
· Robust recruitment systems including DBS checks, full employment history, and identity verification were consistently followed.
· Medicines were managed safely with competency assessments, spot checks, and fully completed MAR records.
· Staff received structured induction including the Care Certificate for those new to care, plus regular refresher training.
· Staff were well supported through one-to-one supervision, annual appraisals, and regular staff meetings.
AQS Homecare Dorset achieved a Good rating across all five key questions at its August 2019 inspection, with 90 people receiving person-centred care from well-trained, compassionate staff under a responsive and well-regarded registered manager. Minor recommendations were made regarding medicines administration record-keeping and the addition of personalised condition-specific information to care plans.
Concerns (4)
moderateMedication management: “The name of the creator was recorded, and it was checked to ensure it was correct by a second member of staff. This check was not recorded but not recorded.”
moderateMedication management: “The service policy stated that a second member of staff should check the entry and sign to confirm it was correct. This was not always being done.”
minorMedication management: “There was no system in place to check that this was happening.”
minorCare planning: “There was no personalised information about how the person was affected by their condition or any signs and symptoms staff should be aware of.”
Strengths
· People and relatives praised staff as caring, supportive and respectful of dignity and independence.
· Safe recruitment practices and sufficient staffing levels maintained to meet people's needs.
· Staff received comprehensive induction, ongoing training, regular supervision and competency checks.
· Robust governance systems with audits, surveys and unannounced spot checks identifying and addressing shortfalls.
· Effective collaborative working with GPs, district nurses and other health professionals.
Quality-Statement breakdown (25)
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
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 eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely careGood
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 careGood
caring: 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: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
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: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving careGood