Excellence in Care

Updated 5 January 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 completed by 2 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 accommodation.

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 72 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 13 December 2022 and ended on 19 December 2022. We visited the location’s office on 13 December 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since their registration with CQC. 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.

During the inspection

We spoke to 3 people and relatives via telephone to gain feedback about their care. We spoke with 2 staff including the registered manager and senior care staff. We reviewed records relating to people's care and the running of the service. These included care records for 3 people, 2 staff recruitment files, audits, policies, quality assurance records and medicines administration records.

Updated 5 January 2023

About the service

Excellence in Care is a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care services to people living in their own home. There were 3 people using the service at the time of the inspection. This support included companionship duties which are external to people’s personal care support.

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

People were protected from the risk of abuse, and the registered manager had systems and processes in place to promote and safeguard people. People and relatives told us they felt safe and were positive about the staff who supported them.

Staff were trained to administer medicines safely using the providers new electronic care support system. Checks were completed to ensure staff were following safe medicine practices.

Risks to people were reduced because people's individual risks and needs had been assessed and planned. Staff had access to clear information about people's personal risks and how they should be supported.

Care records were reflective of people's preferences and supported staff to ensure people's needs were met.

Staff followed infection control procedures to reduce the risks of infection. There were plentiful supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE).

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.

People's privacy and dignity were well respected. Staff knew people well and strived to deliver personalised care.

Audit systems were in place to support oversight and governance of the service.

The service was well-led by a registered manager who was passionate about improving care and achieving the best possible outcomes for people. They were committed to the ongoing development of the service and were reviewing their standard operating procedures and business continuity plan to scope a variety of scenarios and eventualities relevant to all people.

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 10 October 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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.