Elstree Home Care (Watford) is a domiciliary care service providing personal care for people living in the community. At the time of our inspection there were 10 people receiving personal care. 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were safe and protected from avoidable harm because staff knew how to identify and report any concerns relating to the risk of abuse. Risks to people’s health, safety and well-being were assessed and measures developed to remove or reduce the risks. People were supported by staff who had been safely recruited.
People’s medicines were managed safely. Staff received appropriate training and had their competency assessed to help ensure they were sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable to safely administer medicines. Staff had received training in infection control practices and personal protective equipment was provided for them. The management team took appropriate action following any incidents and learning was shared with the staff team.
Before care delivery started assessments were completed to make sure people’s needs could be met. Staff received training and support to enable them to carry out their roles effectively.
Management and staff knew people well and were able to promptly identify when people’s needs changed, and they sought professional advice appropriately. 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.
People and relatives praised the kind and caring nature of the staff team. People received consistent care from a small team of staff. People knew about their care plans and could decide what care and support they needed. People were confident to raise any concerns with the management team. Everyone we spoke with during this inspection was satisfied with the care and support they received.
The management team was committed to providing a high standard of care to the people they supported as well as the staff team and understood their responsibilities under the Duty of Candour. People, their relatives and staff spoke highly of the management team and told us they were always available and supportive.
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 13 April 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration with CQC.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.