Authum Care Ltd, a small domiciliary care agency in Hitchin, received an overall Good rating on its first CQC inspection in June–July 2023. While people were safe, treated with dignity, and received person-centred care, recommendations were made regarding staff recruitment robustness, mental capacity assessment specificity, first aid guidance, and incident recording processes.
Concerns (6)
moderate
Staff training
: “staff did not receive first aid training and the first aid policy related to staff in the workplace, not people using the service.”
moderateRecord keeping: “They were not collated anywhere for analysis, and we identified 2 other incidents where appropriate action had been taken but not recorded.”
moderateConsent / capacity: “People's mental capacity assessments did not state what the specific decision being assessed was.”
moderateGovernance: “monthly audits...did not always identify where a medicine had been logged as not administered or refused without explanation.”
moderateStaff competency: “staff files and found they did not include full employment history and have appropriate references...no risk assessment completed regarding the lack of explanation of employment history gaps.”
minorIncident learning: “Staff were not able to give any examples of lessons learned.”
Strengths
· People were safe and received medicines as prescribed; no visits had been missed at the time of inspection.
· Detailed care plans and risk assessments provided staff with clear guidance to support people safely.
· Staff treated people with dignity and respect, promoting independence and accommodating personal and cultural preferences.
· Registered manager was responsive to inspection feedback and took prompt corrective action.
· Positive staff culture with managers described as supportive and knowledgeable.
Quality-Statement breakdown (23)
safe: Staffing and recruitmentRequires improvement
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongRequires improvement
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceRequires improvement
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 careGood
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: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsRequires improvement
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving careGood