Background to this inspection
Updated
23 June 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.
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. Inspection activity started on 17 May 2023 and ended on 23 May 2023. We visited the location’s office on 18 May 2023.
What we did before the inspection
The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Due to technical problems we were unable to review this information prior to our inspection.
We used information gathered as part of monitoring activity that took place on 12 January 2023 to help plan the inspection and inform our judgements. We reviewed information we had received about the service since they registered with us. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke to 6 staff including the registered manager, director, 1 senior carer and 3 health care assistants. We spoke to 2 relatives of people who use the service to gather their feedback. We asked for feedback from professionals working with the service.
We reviewed a range of care records, risk assessments and medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to staff recruitment. We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, staff development and the provider's policies and procedures.
Updated
23 June 2023
About the service
Essential Care Solutions Ltd is a small domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people living in the community. The service provides support to older people, younger adults and people with a physical disability or sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection there were 2 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The majority of people’s health associated risks were assessed by the provider. We found some health associated risks were not assessed to guide staff on how to respond to these risks.
Where people were supported in the administration of their medicines, they were supported by staff who had been trained and competency assessed. The provider had no system for the safe administration of transdermal patch application. The provider responded immediately to the feedback from this inspection and implemented a system for transdermal patch application.
People were supported by a small staff team of 6 staff including the registered manager. Staff were mainly safely recruited. We have recommended the provider review their risk assessment processes for new staff. Staff had received a suitable induction with ongoing training and support. Staff were complimentary about the support they had been provided to relocate from overseas.
We received positive feedback from relatives, staff and professionals about the registered manager who was described as “professional”, “approachable” and “kind.” The registered manager had systems to monitor the quality of the service and staff practices. We identified some areas for improvement in these quality systems.
People’s care needs were assessed before receiving care from the service and were updated regularly. This meant that people’s changing needs were identified and supported in a timely way. Care plans for people guided staff to provide safe and effective care.
Relatives told us that people felt safe whilst receiving personal care from the service and felt protected from any risk of abuse. Staff had received safeguarding training and knew the steps they should take to report concerns.
Accidents, incidents and near misses were reported and responded to appropriately and in a timely manner to reduce risk to people. Any lessons learnt were shared with staff to improve practice.
Staff followed good infection control practices and had access to personal protective equipment (PPE).
People were supported to have maximum choice and control over their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.
Relatives of people were overwhelmingly positive about the caring nature of the service and the staff. They reported that they were treated with dignity, respect and kindness.
People were supported in end-of-life care with dignity and respect by staff.
People, relatives and staff felt their concerns were listened to and acted upon. Any learning from good practice of areas for improvement were shared across the organisation.
Staff worked in partnership with relatives and professionals to achieve the best outcomes for people.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 30 March 2022 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of information we held about this service.
Recommendations
We have made a recommendation to the provider to review their risk assessment processes for new staff.