The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • Independent doctor

Just Ears

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Room 12, Pure Offices, Port View, One Port Way, Port Solent, Portsmouth, PO6 4TY 0345 527 2727

Provided and run by:
Southern ENT Limited

Important: This service was previously registered at a different address - see old profile

All Inspections

NA

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This service is rated as Good overall. At the previous inspection in July 2022 we rated this service as Good. We had previously rated the key question of safe as Requires Improvement in July 2022.

We rated the key question of safe as Good at this inspection.

The following ratings are carried over from previous inspection:

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? – Good

We carried out an announced focused inspection at Just Ears on 18 July 2023. The inspection was focused on following up on a breach of regulations identified at our previous inspection carried out in July 2022. Following the inspection in 2022 we asked the provider to make improvements regarding:

  • Implementing systems to ensure staff have the training and skills required by the organisation to deliver safe care.

Just Ears provides ear wax removal service using microsuction. This is where clinicians use a microscope to view the ear canal and a small suction device to remove the wax.

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 for the provision of the regulated activity: Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

One of the Just Ears’ directors is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Our key findings were:

  • The service had implemented systems to record and monitor staff training and development.

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Healthcare

6 July 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This service is rated as Good overall. At the previous inspection in July 2021 we rated this service as Requires Improvement.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services well-led? – Good.

We carried out an announced focused inspection at Just Ears on 6 July 2022. The inspection was focused on following up on breaches of regulations identified at our previous inspection carried out in July 2021. Following the inspection in 2021 we asked the provider to make improvements regarding:

  • Implementing systems to identify, monitor and mitigate risks relating to health and safety, for example by maintaining assurances that risks at branch sites are managed effectively.
  • Maintaining staff records that evidence safe recruitment in accordance to national guidance.
  • Ensuring the service retained records of equipment safety checks and maintenance.
  • Developing a full range of relevant policies that are kept up-to-date and made available to staff.
  • Ensuring any changes to the service, such as new branch sites, are included in an updated Statement of Purpose and these changes are notified to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

In July 2021, we rated two of the key questions, Safe and Well-led as Requires Improvement and reported two breaches of regulations. These were:

  • Regulation 17 (Safe care and treatment) Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and
  • Regulation 12 (Statement of Purpose) CQC (Registration) Regulations 2009

For this follow up inspection in 2022, we focused on the key questions of Safe, Effective and Well-led and checked the areas we had previously found needed improvement. We found improvements had been made, most of the issues had been resolved whilst some areas of improvement needed to be further embedded such as regular appraisals..

Just Ears provides ear wax removal service using microsuction. This is where clinicians use a microscope to view the ear canal and a small suction device to remove the wax.

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 for the provision of the regulated activity: Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

One of the Just Ears’ directors is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Our key findings were:

  • There was a vision for the service and a commitment to patient-centred care
  • The provider had made improvements following our previous inspection in relation to premises and risk assessments. It had invested in additional human resources advice and a new information management system.
  • The provider actively sought patient feedback to develop and improve services.
  • Just Ears had developed their own training and competency assessment programme for practitioners.
  • There was a positive culture which supported effective communication, learning and development.
  • Just Ears was not assured that staff had completed safety training in line with its own requirements. The provider must ensure staff employed by the service receive the appropriate training and supervision.

The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:

  • The provider must ensure staff have the training and skills required by the organisation to deliver safe care, and a system to monitor this.

(Please see the specific details on action required at the end of this report).

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • The provider should ensure clinical practitioners complete the required adult safeguarding training for their roles.
  • The provider should risk assess training requirements for safeguarding children.
  • The provider should ensure they have an effective system for recording staff skills, qualifications, professional registration and training.
  • The provider should ensure all staff receive timely and effective appraisals.
  • The provider should ensure all policies are reviewed and added onto the new information management system.
  • The provider should continue to embed the new information management system and populate it with updated management information.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP
Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

7 and 8 July 2021

During a routine inspection

This service is rated as Requires improvement overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? – Requires improvement

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Just Ears as part of our inspection programme. This location had not previously been inspected since registering with the Care Quality Commission in June 2020. The main location at Port Solent is the hub of 13 sites in the south east of England.

Just Ears provides ear wax removal service using microsuction. This is where clinicians use a microscope to view the ear canal and a small suction device to remove the wax.

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 for the provision of the regulated activity: Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

We found the service required to improve its approach to risk management by gaining assurance that agreed safety measures were implemented by host partners at all sites. The provider must ensure it operates safe systems to monitor and mitigate risks in relation to health and safety and staff recruitment. It must ensure it maintains an up-to-date and accurate Statement of Purpose that reflects the business as it grows, and that there are suitable policies in place and available to staff to support safe working practices.

You can see full details of the regulations not being met at the end of this report.

Our key findings were:

  • The provider had a strong focus on patient-centred care and actively sought patient feedback to develop and improve services.
  • Practitioners were committed to supporting patients in a kind and compassionate way.
  • Just Ears had developed their own training and competency assessment programme for practitioners and aimed to provide a high quality, responsive service.
  • In response to COVID-19, the provider had implemented enhanced infection control procedures to keep patients and staff safe.
  • The provider’s website was informative and included guidance to the public on what to expect from the treatment, as well as how to make a complaint.
  • Staff felt well supported by their managers and colleagues.
  • There was a positive culture which supported effective communication, learning and development.

The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:

  • Implementing systems to identify, monitor and mitigate risks relating to health and safety, for example by maintaining assurances that risks at branch sites are managed effectively.
  • Maintaining staff records that evidence safe recruitment.
  • Ensuring they retain records of equipment safety checks and maintenance.
  • Developing a full range of relevant policies that are kept up-to-date and made available to staff.
  • Ensuring any changes to the service, such as new branch sites, are included in an updated Statement of Purpose and these changes are notified to the Care Quality Commission.

(Please see the specific details on action required at the end of this report).

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care