Extra Care Service

Updated 25 October 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on the 31 July and 1 August 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Prior to the inspection we reviewed this and other information we held about the service, we looked at the previous inspection report and notifications received by the Care Quality Commission. A notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

We spoke with four people using the service. We also spoke with the registered manager, service manager, deputy manager and one support worker. We reviewed four people’s care files. We also looked at quality monitoring, audit information and policies held at the service and the service’s staff support records for three members of staff.

Updated 25 October 2018

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of the service on the 31 July and 1 August 2018. The service was previously inspected in November 2017 and was rated requires improvement overall. At this inspection we found improvements had been made in relation to the management of people’s medication, staff receiving formal supervision

This service is a domiciliary care agency in Grays, Essex. It provides personal care to people living in their own flats within a housing complex benefitting from communal areas. It provides a service to older and younger adults. At the time of our inspection 46 people were using the service.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has 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. The day to day running of the service was undertaken by the service manager who reported to the registered manager daily, as the registered manager also oversaw other services under their registration.

Staff and people spoke very highly of the registered manager and service manager who they informed to be supportive and worked hard to provide an exceptional service. The service had quality monitoring processes in place, however these needed to be embedded to monitor the progress of the service and ensure continued good care delivery.

The service’s recruitment process ensured that appropriate checks were carried out before staff commenced employment. There were sufficient staff on duty to meet the needs of people and keep them safe from potential harm or abuse. People’s health and wellbeing needs were assessed and reviewed to minimise risk to health. People’s medication was managed well and although there was some recording these had not impacted on people negatively and the provider were working to address these.

People were cared for and supported by staff who had received training to support people and to meet their needs. The registered manager had a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were supported to eat and drink enough as to ensure they maintained a balanced diet and referrals to health and social care services was made when required.

Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences of care. Staff always worked hard to promote people’s independence through encouraging and supporting people to make informed decisions.

Records we viewed showed people and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis and when there was a change in care needs. People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities. The service responded to complaints received in a timely manner.