Date of assessment: 11 March 2024 to 9 April 2024. There were quality assurance systems in place to measure the quality and safety of the care being provided. Concerns about safety had been investigated and lessons learnt to ensure changes were made which improved care for others. There were effective systems and processes in place to make sure people were protected from abuse. Risks were managed safely, and people were, where able, involved in making decision about how to keep themselves safe. The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the principles of Right support, right care, right culture. For example, the support provided help to maximise people’s choice, control, and independence. The ethos, values and attitudes of leaders and support staff helped to ensure people led empowered lives which included access to their local community. Staff were trained to support people when they became anxious or distressed. Staffing levels were appropriate, and the recruitment processes promoted safety. Staff anticipated and responded appropriately to deterioration in people’s health and wellbeing. Overall, staff spoke of effective leadership and a positive culture where their views were valued.
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Alina Homecare Specialist Care - Southampton and Hampshire was rated Good across all five key questions at its November 2018 inspection, demonstrating strong safeguarding, person-centred care and governance. Minor shortfalls included a vacancy rate just under 10% and one family member unaware of how to contact the office, both of which were being actively addressed.
Concerns (2)
minorStaffing levels: “The service had a vacancy rate just under 10%. The provider had a "no agency" policy. Vacancies, sickness and absence was covered by existing staff.”
minorCommunication with families: “One person's relative told us they did not know how to contact the office, and only had contact details for the care manager at the local authority.”
Strengths
· Robust safeguarding awareness and confident reporting culture among staff
· Detailed, individualised risk assessments and care plans giving specific guidance to staff
· Comprehensive face-to-face training academy with competency assessments across mandatory training
· Strong medicines management with audits confirming consistent administration as prescribed
· Person-centred support promoting independence, aspirations, employment and life skills
This focused inspection of Alina Homecare Specialist Care - Southampton and Hampshire, triggered by concerns about staffing and care quality, found the service to be Good in both Safe and Well-Led domains. No regulatory breaches were identified; the service demonstrated robust safeguarding, safe staffing, effective governance, and a positive culture, with only a minor concern about internal communication noted by some staff.
Concerns (1)
minorCommunication with families: “If I'm honest I feel there are elements of the communication that could be improved...there is a strong reliance on email correspondence”
Strengths
· Staff demonstrated strong safeguarding knowledge and awareness of abuse types and reporting procedures
· Detailed risk assessments in place covering falls, diabetes, challenging behaviours, nutrition and skin care
· Safe recruitment processes in place with DBS checks and Schedule 3 compliance
· Sufficient staffing levels deployed; care described as unrushed by people and relatives
· Medicines managed safely with accurate MAR records and clear PRN protocols
The Care Division was rated Good overall following inspections in December 2015 and January 2016, with safe, effective, caring, and responsive domains all rated Good. The Well-led domain was rated Requires Improvement due to significant management instability, high staff turnover, and poor communication with people and families at the time of inspection.
Concerns (5)
moderateCommunication with families: “The office staff can be quite rude on the phone and don't always call back, and that upsets me as it could be important.”
moderateLeadership: “A registered manager was not in post at the time of inspection.”
moderateStaffing levels: “Staff not always available to help out at short notice, so if someone has higher needs support this would get covered, but someone who had low needs...might be cancelled.”
moderateSupervision / appraisal: “The service had also lost some field care supervisors and new supervisors had just been appointed and were in the process of meeting up with people and staff.”
minorGovernance: “Records showed that some of these audits were missing and they had fallen behind...they have been short of field supervisors for a short time.”
Strengths
· People felt safe and staff were knowledgeable in safeguarding, with clear reporting procedures in place.
· Medicines were managed safely with an electronic alert system monitoring administration in real time.
· Staff received comprehensive training including induction, care certificate, and specialist courses such as epilepsy and autism.
· Regular supervision was provided every eight weeks with staff reporting feeling supported and listened to.
· Care plans were personalised, detailed, and updated via the live MyDiary system accessible to staff and people.
Quality-Statement breakdown (21)
safe: Staffing levelsGood
safe: SafeguardingGood
safe: Risk managementGood
safe: Medication managementGood
safe: Recruitment practicesGood
effective: Staff training and inductionGood
effective: Supervision and appraisalGood
effective: Consent and Mental Capacity Act complianceGood
effective: Nutrition and hydration support
Good
effective: Access to healthcareGood
caring: Kindness and compassionGood
caring: Promotion of independenceGood
caring: Dignity and privacyGood
responsive: Person-centred care planningGood
responsive: Access to activitiesGood
responsive: Complaints handlingGood
responsive: Feedback and quality assuranceGood
well-led: Leadership stability and registered managerRequires improvement
well-led: Communication with people and familiesRequires improvement