# ACS

*Operated by A C S Care Services Ltd.*

ACS is a CQC-regulated home-care agency in Milton Keynes.

## CQC Ratings

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

Rating published: 19/09/2023

## Practical info

- Postcode: MK6 2EW
- Registered manager: Townley, Alan
- Local authority: Milton Keynes
- Region: South East
- City: Milton Keynes
- Last CQC check: 19/Sep/2023 - 00:00

## Inspection findings

### caring

- Finding
  - Involvement in care planning
  - Published: 2021-01-30
- Finding
  - Dignity, respect and person-centred approach
  - Published: 2021-01-30

### effective

- Finding
  - Nutrition and health needs
  - Published: 2021-01-30
- Finding
  - Staff training and supervision
  - Published: 2021-01-30
- Finding
  - Consent and Mental Capacity Act compliance
  - Published: 2021-01-30

### Other

- Finding
  - Evidence: Electronic medicines recording system in use for some people, with plans to expand to all service users for real-time monitoring
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Evidence: Risk assessments and care plans were comprehensive, reviewed annually and updated as needed, involving people and their representatives
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Evidence: Provider participated in innovative local authority/NHS pilot projects, including medicines, end of life care and urgent support, receiving exceptional feedback from health professionals
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Evidence: Registered manager was approachable, open and transparent, with strong positive feedback from people, relatives, staff and health professionals
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Evidence: Effective oversight of accidents and incidents with lessons learned communicated to staff to reduce recurrence
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Evidence: Safe recruitment practices followed; staff trained in safeguarding, MCA, infection control and medicines administration with competency checks
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Evidence: Staff were reliable, arrived within agreed time windows, and people were usually supported by a small team of familiar carers
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- **record_keeping** _(minor)_
  - Evidence: tightening the oversight of medicines recording and the daily notes written by staff to ensure these were consistently completed accurately and to a good standard
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- **governance** _(minor)_
  - Evidence: Team meetings involving all staff did not take place regularly but the registered manager planned to reinstate these so staff had opportunities to receive information, share learning
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- **record_keeping** _(moderate)_
  - Evidence: there were some gaps in recording by staff on paper medicines administration charts (MAR). The registered manager had identified this issue already and explained the action they were taking
  - Published: 2023-09-19

### responsive

- Finding
  - Complaints handling
  - Published: 2021-01-30
- Finding
  - Consistency of care staff and visit timings
  - Published: 2021-01-30

### safe

- Finding
  - Learning lessons when things go wrong
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Preventing and controlling infection
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Assessing risk, safety monitoring and management
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuse
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Using medicines safely
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Staffing and recruitment
  - Published: 2023-09-19

### well_led

- Finding
  - Continuous learning and improving care; Working in partnership with others
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staff
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candour
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering
  - Published: 2023-09-19
- Finding
  - Leadership and culture
  - Published: 2021-01-30
- Finding
  - Quality assurance and governance systems
  - Published: 2021-01-30

## 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/1-396848777

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