Home Instead Braintree

Updated 14 July 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 carried out by one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has experience in using this type of 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 the service 48 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 the 04 April 2023 and ended on 13 April 2023. We visited the office location on 11 April 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we had received about the service and used this to plan our 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with 6 people who used the service and 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 6 members of staff including the registered manager, care co-ordinator, and one of the directors.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 people’s care records and medicines documentation, 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 14 July 2023

About the service

Homeinstead Braintree is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. At the time of the inspection 19 people were using the service.

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

Risks to people’s safety were assessed and monitored. People received their medicines as prescribed, and the provider ensured staff were trained and competent to administer their medicines. Staff had access to appropriate personal protective equipment [PPE] and safe infection prevention and control processes were in place. The provider had systems in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse and staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns.

People were supported by a small and consistent staff team who knew them well and understood how they liked to be supported. People received their care at their preferred times and the provider ensured people were contacted if there was any delay.

People and relatives spoke positively about the quality of care received and the kind and caring attitude of staff. People’s care was personalised and enabled them to achieve good outcomes. 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 an induction when starting in their role and had completed a range of relevant training to develop their skills and knowledge. Staff told us they felt supported by the management team and able to discuss any issues. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service and had developed positive working relationships with other healthcare professionals in order to support people’s needs.

People and relatives told us the provider stayed in regular contact and they felt involved and able to feedback on the service. They told us the management team were approachable and they were confident any concerns raised would be acted upon promptly and appropriately.

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 24 November 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection as the service had not been rated.

Follow up

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