This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. All Star Care provides domiciliary care services to people living in the community in their own homes in two London boroughs. At the time of this inspection there were four people using the service. The service provides personal care to older people. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

This was the first inspection of the service since initial registration in May 2017.

At the time of this inspection there was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission [CQC] to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People using the service had a care plan which contained information about the person and their care needs and requirements. As part of the care planning process, the registered manager carried out risk assessments which covered the home environment, personal care needs, moving and handling and health and safety.

Care staff were trained about how to identify types of abuse and there was clear guidance about the actions they should take if they had any concerns.

The registered manager and care staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how this could impact on the provision of care and support. Care plans demonstrated that mental capacity assessments took place and were acted upon.

Care staff received training in the safe administration of medicines. The registered manager monitored medicines recording and administration and there were systems in place to ensure this was managed safely.

The service had safe recruitment processes in place. These included obtaining references and the completion of a disclosure and barring service check prior to the care staff commencing their employment. Care staff told us that they felt supported in their role and received regular supervision. Most care staff had been working at the service for under a year. Annual appraisals had not yet been completed yet, apart from one for a longer serving member of care staff. The registered manager told us this would occur for the remaining staff before their first anniversary of starting work at the agency.

Care staff, when they first started working at the service, received an in-house induction and training, which included safeguarding, moving and handling and medicine administration.

A spot check system was in place to monitor the care and support provided to people along with regular reviews of people’s care and support needs. No missed visits had occurred and people were contacted if their care worker was delayed.

The service had a complaints policy which was given to people using the service and relatives. The registered manager reported that they had not received any complaints since the service began operating.

Although the service was relatively new, quality assurance questionnaires had been completed. These showed a high degree of satisfaction with the service by people using it and their relatives. There was regular contact with people by the registered manager.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.