# Choices Healthcare Ltd Suffolk

*Operated by Choices Healthcare Limited.*

Choices Healthcare Ltd Suffolk is a CQC-regulated home-care agency in Ipswich.

## CQC Ratings

| Key question | Rating |
| --- | --- |
| Overall | Requires improvement |
| Safe | Inadequate |
| Effective | Requires improvement |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Well-led | Requires improvement |

Rating published: 21/01/2023

## Practical info

- Postcode: IP1 1PH
- Registered manager: Lahani, Judith
- Local authority: Suffolk
- Region: East
- City: Ipswich
- Last CQC check: 29/Mar/2023 - 00:00

## Inspection findings

### effective

- Finding
  - Supporting people to eat and drink; working with other agencies; accessing healthcare
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Staff support: induction, training, skills and experience
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Mental Capacity Act compliance
  - Published: 2023-01-25

### Other

- Finding
  - Evidence: Care plans and risk assessments were being updated, and Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism was being considered for staff.
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- Finding
  - Evidence: Provider was proactive and responsive to people's concerns, with one person noting significant improvement in the last three months.
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- Finding
  - Evidence: Improvements made to recruitment processes and a new manager appointed to support ongoing progress.
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- Finding
  - Evidence: Overall feedback from people and relatives was positive; no quality care concerns were reported.
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- Finding
  - Evidence: Provider engaged with relevant partner agencies and was committed to developing the service, with the level of risk reduced and Warning Notice requirements met.
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- **incident_learning** _(minor)_
  - Evidence: Reporting and auditing systems had been introduced but it was too soon to assess their overall effectiveness.
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- **consent_capacity** _(moderate)_
  - Evidence: Work was ongoing to ensure the Mental Capacity Act was fully understood at all levels within the service and that records and practice supported shared decision making.
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- **communication_with_families** _(moderate)_
  - Evidence: People and relatives shared that the handover process when the live in carers changed over was not always a smooth transition and communication was still mixed at times from the office.
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- **record_keeping** _(moderate)_
  - Evidence: Auditing of staff files had begun, and gaps had been identified in some records. However, where actions were required, it was not always evident how this was effectively tracked and managed.
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- **care_planning** _(critical)_
  - Evidence: At the time of our inspection not all care plans and risk assessments for people had been reviewed. This meant people were at risk because staff did not always have the guidance they needed.
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- **governance** _(critical)_
  - Evidence: Systems were not yet robust enough to demonstrate good governance. This was a continued breach of regulation 17 (Good governance) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- Finding
  - Evidence: People were supported to access healthcare appointments and timely referrals were made when needed.
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Evidence: Staff were positive about management support and described the team as approachable and accessible.
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Evidence: People and relatives reported good infection control practice, with staff wearing appropriate PPE.
  - Published: 2023-01-25

### safe

- Finding
  - Preventing and controlling infection
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Using medicines safely
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Learning lessons when things go wrong
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Assessing risk, safety monitoring and management
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Staffing and recruitment
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuse
  - Published: 2023-01-25

### well_led

- Finding
  - Continuous learning and improving care
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- Finding
  - Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- Finding
  - Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering
  - Published: 2023-03-29
- Finding
  - Engaging people, staff and working in partnership
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Duty of candour and CQC notifications
  - Published: 2023-01-25
- Finding
  - Promoting a positive culture; governance and continuous learning
  - Published: 2023-01-25

## Source

Data published by the [Care Quality Commission](https://www.cqc.org.uk/) under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canonical page: https://homecarecompass.co.uk/agency/1-2040478577

HomeCare Compass is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the CQC.