Background to this inspection
Updated
3 December 2019
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Expertise Homecare (UK) is a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care and support for people in their own homes.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
Notice of inspection
This was a comprehensive inspection and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours' notice of the inspection as we needed to be sure that the office was open, people and staff would be available to speak with us.
What we did
We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration with the Care Quality Commission on 27 November 2018. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse or when a person dies. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We contacted healthcare professionals for feedback. We received feedback from a practitioner. We took this information into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
During the inspection, we visited three people in their homes after we sought their consent, spoke with one relative, two care workers, branch manager and the registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records, risk assessments, daily records and health records. We also looked at three staff files including their recruitment, supervision and training records. We reviewed records relating to the management of the service, quality assurance records and a variety of policies and procedures implemented by the provider. We also looked at other records the provider kept, such as staff meetings minutes and surveys staff and relatives completed to share their views.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We received the training data sent to us in a timely manner.
Updated
3 December 2019
About the service
Expertise Homecare (UK) is a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care and support for people in their own homes. The agency provides care and support for people in the Kent area. People receiving care and support included people living with dementia, older people and those with physical disabilities and mental health needs. At the time of our inspection, they were supporting eight people.
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
People we spoke were satisfied with the care provided by the agency staff. One person said, “I feel like I have won the lottery with this care agency, based on my last experience with other care agencies.”
People received safe care and support from Expertise Homecare. The branch manager, registered manager and staff we spoke with knew what their responsibilities were in relation to keeping people safe from the risk of abuse. Spot checks and home visits were carried out to ensure both staff and people were safe.
Care plans contained detailed risk assessments. This mitigated any identified risks. Environmental risk assessments were also in place, which identified and reduced any environmental risks to people and staff.
People’s needs were assessed prior to receiving a service including their protected characteristics under the Equalities Act.
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.
Care plans contained detailed information about people’s needs. These were reviewed regularly. People told us they were involved in their care.
Staff were caring and always protected people’s dignity and independence. Staff gave people choices in their care daily.
People were encouraged to raise any concerns they had or make suggestions to improve the service they received. Detailed information about how to complain were in people’s homes.
The service had an effective system in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the services provided.
Staff told us there was an open culture where they were kept informed about any changes to their role. Staff told us the registered manager was approachable and listened to their ideas and suggestions.
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 27 November 2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected:
This was a planned comprehensive inspection.
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