Alpha May Care First, a small domiciliary care agency supporting six children and adults with complex needs across Brighton and Wakefield, was rated Good across all five key questions at its first inspection. Inspectors found a safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led service with a proactive registered manager, strong personalised care planning, robust recruitment and medicines management, and positive feedback from people, relatives and professionals.
Strengths
· Robust safeguarding training and processes with no safeguarding issues since registration
· Thorough recruitment processes including DBS checks, references and full employment history
· Person-centred, age-appropriate care plans (including pictorial plans for children)
· Strong medicines management with regular MAR audits by senior carers, registered nurse and management
· Specialist training sourced from healthcare professionals for complex needs (e.g. epilepsy, diabetes, specialist feeding)
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 eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies; supporting people to access healthcare servicesGood
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: Managers and staff being clear about their roles; duty of candourGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people, the public and staffGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving care; working in partnership with othersGood