About the service:

Alpha Quality Care is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care to people in their own homes within the community. At the time of the inspection, the service was providing care to nine people.

People’s experience of using this service:

• Most staff had completed essential training and were knowledgeable of how to support people effectively. However, we identified a staff member who had not received training in topics that the provider considered mandatory and another staff member who had not received refresher training in key areas.

• People received their medicines safely and as prescribed, however records of medicines administration had not always been completed fully and accurately.

• There was no direct support available to provide cover for the manager, which mean that should they be absent, appropriate cover may not be in place.

• Quality assurance checks were in place, which included a range of audits carried out by the manager, however these had not identified the concerns we found in relation to medicines records and staff training.

• People were supported by staff with their nutritional and hydration needs. Staff worked in collaboration with health and social care professionals where required.

• People received timely and consistent team from a group of staff that understood their needs well.

• Staff treated people with kindness and compassion. Staff had developed positive relationships with people and their relatives and knew what mattered most to them.

• People’s cultural and diversity needs were assessed, recorded and respected by staff appropriately.

• Most people had a clear, detailed and person-centred care plan in place, which guided staff on the most appropriate way to support them.

• Complaints were dealt with and investigated appropriately by the manager. People felt able to raise concerns.

• The manager kept in contact with people and sought their feedback about the service in a variety of ways.

• Rating at last inspection:

This was the first inspection of the service since they registered with the Care Quality Commission.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection.