EPIC Homecare Limited

Updated 31 May 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector and 1 Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection we spoke with 5 members of staff which included the registered manager and nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service. We spoke with 3 people and 5 relatives of people who were receiving personal care and support. We contacted 5 health and social care professionals for their feedback. We reviewed 3 people’s care records and risk assessments. We looked at medicine administration records, 2 staff files in relation to recruitment, training and staff supervision. We also reviewed other records relating to the management of the service, including audits.

Updated 31 May 2023

About the service

EPIC homecare Limited (hereafter called EPIC) is a domiciliary care agency which provides support and personal care to people living in their own home. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection 19 people were receiving a regulated activity from the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe, and staff knew what actions to take to keep people safe. There were safe recruitment processes in place and adequate numbers of staff with the appropriate skills and experience to meet people’s needs. Staff received training and their competency was regularly checked to ensure people received safe effective care. Staff followed infection control guidance and had access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

People’s care and support was planned with them, and risk assessments reflected people’s needs. People’s medicine administration records were up to date and were regularly reviewed to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed. People were supported by staff who were kind and caring and knew people’s choices and preferences.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff understood their roles and responsibilities and felt confident in their role. Staff liaised with other health and social care providers to ensure people’s health and care needs were met.

The provider had governance processes in place to oversee the quality of care provided. People were asked for their feedback about the quality of service and this was used to make improvements.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 16 August 2021, and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.