Everyday Recruitment Agency

Updated 15 January 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

One inspector and an Expert by Experience conducted the inspection. 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. The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 16 December 2019 and ended on 20 December 2019. We visited the office location on 16 December 2019.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we had received about the service, including previous inspection reports. We also considered information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once a year to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 12 people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 7 members of staff including the registered manager, training manager and care workers. Four staff members additionally provided us with feedback via email. We also received feedback via email from two professionals who have involvement with the service. We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care and medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We requested some information from the registered manager which we received. The registered manager also sent us information to clarify some of the feedback we had given.

Updated 15 January 2020

About the service

Everyday Recruitment Agency (ERA) is a domiciliary care agency that provides care and support to people living in their own homes in Worthing and the surrounding areas. It provides a service to people who have a range of needs, including older people with a nursing need, people who live with dementia and children. 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 the inspection 35 people were receiving personal care.

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

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. However, records had not always been made for decisions completed in people’s best interest. We recommended that the provider reviews guidance on the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff understood how to keep people in their care safe from harm. Where risks to people had been identified measures had been put in place to reduce or eliminate those risks. Safe systems were in place to ensure people got their medicines at the right times. Staff had been recruited safely and there were enough staff to provide people with timely care and support.

The registered manager provided support to staff via team meetings, regular supervisions and appraisals. Staff received an induction from the provider and regular refresher training.

People were supported in the way they preferred and had positive, trusting relationships with staff. They were supported by staff who were caring and who knew them well, showed them respect and promoted their dignity.

People received personalised care that was tailored to meet their individual needs, preferences and choices. Care plans provided guidance to staff about people's needs and how to meet them. People's concerns and complaints were listened to and used to improve the service they received.

People, relatives and staff were complimentary about the registered manager and how the service was run. A quality assurance system was in place to ensure the safety and quality of the service.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (report published 29 December 2016).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.