Background to this inspection
Updated
29 September 2022
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 completed by two inspectors and an 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We gave a short period 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 25 August 2022 and ended on 21 September 2022. We visited the location’s office on 1 September 2022.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete 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. We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered with us. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
During and after our inspection, and visit to the office, we spoke and received feedback from six staff including the registered manager and deputy manager to gather their views about the quality of care provided. We spoke with four relatives to seek their feedback about the quality of care people received. We requested and reviewed various records including three people’s care records, three staff recruitment records, staff training, supervision and how the provider monitored the quality of care people received.
Updated
29 September 2022
About the service
Ever Care is a small domiciliary care service providing personal care to people living in their own homes. 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 there were five people who were receiving the regulated activity of personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were well cared for, with respect. Relatives described staff as lovely, kind, competent and caring. They described staff going out of their way to meet people’s needs. A relative said, “It’s quality care, very caring and having changed to Ever Care it’s allowed me to get my life back.”
Staff understood how to protect people from harm or discrimination. There were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet people’s needs and ensure their safety. Risks to people were assessed and their safety monitored and managed. A relative said, “I’m 100% happy knowing my [relative] is able to say in [their] own home, and that [they are] safe and someone is there to raise an alarm. Peace of mind.”
Safe recruitment practices were followed to make sure the right staff were employed. Infection prevention and control practices were followed to minimise the spread of infection, including those related to COVID-19
People’s needs and choices were assessed to make sure the service was right for them. Staff knew people well and provided them with the care and support they needed in a way they preferred. 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 received the training, supervision and support they needed. They were very complimentary about the way the service was managed, especially how good the communication was and the involvement from the registered manager.
People and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care and support with a clear focus on supporting people to maintain and develop their independence.
We have made recommendations about the quality assurance system and management of digital information.
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 21 September 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service including when the service registered with CQC.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.