Alpha Health & Social Care Services received a Good rating across all five key questions at its first inspection in November 2022, with seven people receiving personal care in their own homes. The service demonstrated safe recruitment, effective person-centred care planning, reliable visit delivery, and strong governance supported by a well-connected registered manager.
Strengths
· Robust staff recruitment process including DBS checks and structured induction with experienced staff shadowing
· People and family members consistently praised the reliability of the service and the kind, caring approach of staff
· Medicines management was thorough, with competency assessments for staff who administered medication
· Care records were personalised, accessible electronically to people and families, and reflected individual preferences
· Registered manager actively engaged with local authority webinars, Skills for Care forums and CQC newsletters to stay current
Quality-Statement breakdown (21)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and management; Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
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 care; Supporting people to live healthier livesGood
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 preferences; End of life care and supportGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering; Continuous learning and improving careGood
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 staff, fully considering their equality characteristicsGood