Alina Homecare Christchurch achieved a Good rating across all five key questions on its first CQC inspection in June 2021, demonstrating safe, person-centred care for 41 older adults with strong safeguarding, recruitment, and governance processes. Minor gaps were identified around risk assessments for self-administered medicines and inconsistent recording of quality assurance action outcomes, both of which were promptly addressed during the inspection.
Concerns (2)
minor
Medication management
: “People who had their medicines administered by care staff had made decisions to occasionally self-administer medicine to accommodate their lifestyle choices. Risk assessments had not been completed to ensure this was safe.”
minorGovernance: “Quality assurance data was used to measure performance against quality targets and set actions to drive performance. Records did not consistently demonstrate the completion of actions and outcomes.”
Strengths
· People felt safe and praised staff highly; robust safeguarding training and reporting systems were in place.
· Safe recruitment processes including criminal record checks, verified references and employment gap confirmation.
· Comprehensive risk assessments covering skin damage, falls, choking, environmental hazards and specialist assessments from OT and SALT.
· Medicines administered by trained, competency-checked staff with detailed protocols for PRN medicines and topical creams.
· IPC practices aligned with government guidance; PPE used correctly and staff participated in COVID-19 testing and vaccination programmes.
Quality-Statement breakdown (23)
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 eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies; supporting people to live healthier lives and access healthcareGood
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: 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; continuous learning and improving careGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood