We carried out a review of the data available to us about Epiphany in Care Limited on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Epiphany in Care Limited, you can give feedback on this service.
Epiphany in Care is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care, support and outreach services to people who live in their own home. At the time of the inspection, the service was providing support to 30 people.
Nine of these people were receiving support with personal care at the time of our inspection. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Systems and processes were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff understood their responsibilities and received regular training to ensure people were safe. Where risks had been identified, assessments were in place and action was taken to manage risks where possible. This included risks relating to falls and health conditions.
People usually received their medicines safely and as prescribed. There had been some errors in medicines administration. When errors had been identified, actions had been taken to improve practice. The registered manager planned to review the checks carried out to ensure medicines errors were identified more promptly.
Staff were safely recruited, and sufficient staff were in place to support people. Staff received induction, training and support, and were competent in carrying out their role.
Staff were motivated to deliver person-centred care which focused on developing or maintaining skills and independence and getting positive outcomes for people. The staff we spoke with were positive and caring and treated people with dignity and respect.
People and relatives were supported to express their views and preferences. Feedback about the service was positive. People, relatives and staff all gave positive feedback about the registered manager. They were described as responsive, flexible and committed to the people who received support from the service.
People’s needs and preferences were assessed before they received support from the service and these were regularly reviewed. Care plans gave guidance to staff about what people could do for themselves and how best to provide support.
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 were supported to eat and drink enough to meet their individual needs and preferences. People had access to routine and specialist healthcare services. Staff worked closely with other professionals to ensure people received effective care which met their needs.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 15 June 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Epiphany in Care is registered to provide personal care and support for people within their own homes. At the time of our inspection six people received care and support from this service.
At the last inspection on 12 April 2016 the service was required to improve in the areas of medicines administration and staff training. After the inspection, the provider wrote to us to say what they would do to improve in those areas. At this inspection we found that they have met the requirements.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.
We found that people were provided with care that was safe, person centred, sensitive and compassionate. The service was managed and staffed by a consistent team of support workers who were well trained and well supported.
The safety of people using the service was taken seriously by the registered manager and staff who understood their responsibility to protect people's health and well-being. The registered manager and staff had received training about protecting people form abuse and they knew what action to take if they suspected abuse.
Risks posed to people and staff both within the persons home and when being supported outside the home had been assessed and measures put in place to manage any hazards identified.
Policies and procedures were in place for the safe administration of medicines and staff had been trained and assessed to administer medicines safely.
Staff had received the training and guidance they required to assist people in the right way including helping them to eat and drink enough. People had been assisted to receive all the healthcare support they needed. Staff had ensured that people's rights were protected because the Mental Capacity Act 2005(MCA) Code of Practice was followed when decisions were made on their behalf.
Staff recruitment files showed that effective recruitment procedures had been followed. Appropriate checks had been carried out to ensure that staff were suitable to work with vulnerable adults.
All staff members confirmed they received regular training throughout the year and that this was up to date. This provided them with the knowledge and skills to do their jobs effectively.
People who used the service told us that the standard of care they received was good. They said that staff were reliable, kind and caring and knew what they were doing. Relatives spoken with praised the staff team for the quality of care provided.
Staff members were positive about how the service was being managed and spoke about the staff team in general being very supportive and of feeling part of a family.
There was a quality assurance system in place to review systems and help to ensure compliance with the regulations and to promote the welfare of the people who used the service. This included audits on care plans, medication and accidents.
Epiphany in Care is registered to provide personal care and support for people within their own homes. At the time of our inspection four people were receiving care and support from this service.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.
Although people said they received their medicines safely, some aspects of medicines management were not always the best practice. Some risks to people were not assessed however; plans were put in place to reduce the likelihood of them experiencing harm. The provider had ensured staff received training and support to carry out their duties. However, these trainings had not been formalised including specialist trainings. People told us they felt safe and that the service was reliable and people received their support visits as planned. People said staff had sufficient time to give them the assistance they required. The provider had ensured through the use of satisfactory recruitment procedures that staff were suitable for their work role.
There was an up to date policy in place regarding the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This ensured that people gave consent to their care and support and their right was promoted. People told us they received the help they wanted and the provider and staff listened to them. They said staff were caring and polite and they had positive relationships with them. People’s support was regularly reviewed to make sure it was safe and met their needs. The provider checked the quality of the service people received by observing how staff supported people.