Background to this inspection
Updated
5 February 2020
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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing.
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
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 21 January 2020 and ended on 28 January 2020. We visited the office location on 22/01/2020 and the 28/01/2020.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since it’s registration date and sought feedback from the local authority. 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 took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff. This included the three directors, the registered manager, deputy manager, and three care workers. We also spoke with a health professional who had involvement with the service.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at a training matrix.
Updated
5 February 2020
About the service
Embrace Home Care Limited is a domiciliary service providing help and support to people who live in their own homes. 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. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting 10 people with personal care needs.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were protected from avoidable harm. Risk assessments were completed, and actions required to reduce risk were documented in care records. Recruitment procedures helped ensure only staff suitable to work with vulnerable people were employed. People told us they felt safe and staff were aware of how to raise concerns if they suspected people were at risk of abuse. Staffing was arranged to meet people’s needs and wishes and staff were described as, “Lovely.” Medicines were managed safely, however records of practical competency assessment did not record all the areas of medicines assessed.
We have made a recommendation about the recording of medicines competency that can be found in the safe section of this report.
Audits were carried out to drive improvements and staff were informed if improvements were required, however records were not always kept showing audits had been carried out.
We have made a recommendation about the recording of audits that can be found in the well-led section of this report.
Staff told us they were happy to work at the service, they were supported by the registered manager and management team and morale was good. The management team and registered manager worked in partnership with a variety of agencies to ensure people’s health and social needs were met.
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. Mental capacity assessments were carried out and were decision specific. If people needed help to main an adequate diet and hydration, care records detailed the support they required. People were supported by staff who were trained and knowledgeable of people’s individual needs. People and where appropriate, relatives were involved in care planning.
Care records were written in a person-centred manner and reflected people’s individual needs. People’s communication needs had been assessed and documented and staff were aware of these. There was a complaints process for people to raise concerns if they wished to do so.
People and relatives spoke highly of the staff and staff told us they were committed to providing the best possible service to the people they supported. People were treated with respect and dignity; their independence was encouraged.
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 January 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on our published methodology.
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.