Excellence Home Care

Updated 7 September 2022

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.

We carried out this performance review and assessment under Section 46 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act). We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements of the regulations associated with the Act and looked at the quality of the service to provide a rating.

Unlike our standard approach to assessing performance, we did not physically visit the office of the location. This is a new approach we have introduced to reviewing and assessing performance of some care at home providers. Instead of visiting the office location we use technology such as electronic file sharing and video or phone calls to engage with people using the service and staff.

Inspection team

The 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.

Registered Manager

The provider, who was the nominated individual, managed the day to day running of the service. The provider is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. Inspection activity started on 9 August 2022 and finished on 17 August 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority, although they do not currently work with the service. We used all this information 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

This performance review and assessment was carried out without a visit to the location’s office. We used technology such as video calls to enable us to engage with the person using the service and staff, and electronic file sharing to enable us to review documentation.

We spoke with the nominated individual, a support worker, the administrator and the person receiving the service by telephone. We reviewed a range of records including policies, procedures, assessments, care plans and risk assessments, training records, feedback from the person using the service and quality assurance records.

Updated 7 September 2022

About the service

Excellence Home Care is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there was one person 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

The person who used the service gave positive feedback about the service and the staff who supported them. They told us, "[Staff member] is wonderful."

The person's care needs were assessed, and a detailed person-centred care plan was in place to meet the person's needs. Care was delivered by a staff member who knew the person very well, promoted their independence and understood how to support them. Where risks of potential harm had been identified, risk assessments were in place that recorded actions staff could take to reduce the potential for harm.

Appropriate checks were completed prior to staff being employed to work at the service. Staff had a robust induction in to the service and there were procedures for their on-going supervision, training and development. The staff member supporting the person had appropriate training.

Staff had been trained in medicines administration and there were policies and procedures in place to manage these safely, however this was not a current need in the service. Staff adhered to Covid-19 procedures. Staff had training in infection prevention and control to safely support the person.

The person told us they received a caring service and staff respected them as an individual and supported them with dignity. They told us having a consistent staff member meant they had built a good relationship. The staff member supported them to maintain friendships and access the local community.

The person was supported to have maximum choice and control of their life 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.

The person told us they had no concerns about the service but knew how to raise any issues and felt these would be addressed. They had been asked for their feedback on the service and felt they could influence the care they received. The quality and assurance systems in place allowed for effective monitoring of the service by the nominated individual and there were plans to develop these as the service grew.

The service only employed two staff currently alongside the nominated individual, who managed and delivered the service. They all told us the service’s aim was to integrate with, and support, the local community. The service valued respect and equality.

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 22 July 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the date the service was registered

Follow up

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