# Anchusa Care

*Operated by Anchusa Care Limited.*

Anchusa Care is a CQC-regulated home-care agency in Hitchin.

## CQC Ratings

| Key question | Rating |
| --- | --- |
| Overall | Good |
| Safe | Good |
| Effective | Good |
| Caring | Outstanding |
| Responsive | Good |
| Well-led | Good |

Rating published: 31/01/2024

## Practical info

- Postcode: SG5 1RT
- Registered manager: Alexander, Kelly-Jo
- Local authority: Hertfordshire
- Region: East
- City: Hitchin
- Last CQC check: 31/Jan/2024 - 00:00

## Inspection findings

### caring

- Finding
  - Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their care; Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independence
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversity
  - Published: 2024-01-31

### effective

- Finding
  - Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidance
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Staff working with other agencies; Supporting people to live healthier lives; Supporting people to eat and drink enough
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Staff support: induction, training, skills and experience
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the law
  - Published: 2024-01-31

### Other

- Finding
  - Evidence: Positive feedback from local authority commissioner describing Anchusa as 'a great caring organisation who put people first'.
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Evidence: Responsive complaints handling with all sampled complaints acknowledged, investigated and resolved.
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Evidence: Care boxes carried by staff to ensure continuity of care following hospital discharge, avoiding unnecessary readmissions.
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Evidence: Proactive multicultural recruitment and strong support for overseas staff settling in the UK.
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Evidence: Innovative use of sensory equipment (Joy's Place) to help staff understand the experiences of visually and hearing impaired people.
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Evidence: No missed or late calls reported; staff stayed the full planned length of each visit.
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Evidence: Effective medicines management with competency checks and significant reduction in recording errors following retraining.
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Evidence: Robust staff induction including a mock home environment, mentorship programme, and specific training for conditions such as Huntington's Disease.
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Evidence: Strong continuity of care with consistent staff teams who formed meaningful relationships with people, leading to outstanding outcomes.
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Evidence: Exceptional person-centred caring culture with staff consistently going above and beyond, including attending hospital appointments in their own time and visiting people to prevent isolation.
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- **record_keeping** _(minor)_
  - Evidence: Care plans required further detail and power of attorney had not been verified for some people.
  - Published: 2024-01-31

### responsive

- Finding
  - End of life care and support
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Improving care quality in response to complaints or concerns
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Meeting people's communication needs
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferences
  - Published: 2024-01-31

### safe

- Finding
  - Preventing and controlling infection
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Using medicines safely
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Staffing and recruitment
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Assessing risk, safety monitoring and management
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuse; Learning lessons when things go wrong
  - Published: 2024-01-31

### well_led

- Finding
  - Working in partnership with others
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candour; Continuous learning and improving care
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering
  - Published: 2024-01-31
- Finding
  - Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements
  - Published: 2024-01-31

## 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/1-3054977719

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