Homelium Essex

Updated 23 November 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 between 22 August 2018 and 12 November 2018 and was announced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

We checked the information we held about the service and the service provider. This included statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During our inspection we spoke with three staff, the Head of Care and the manager. We spent time looking at records, including four care plan files three staff recruitment and training files, medication administration records (MAR), complaints and other records related to the management of the service. We carried out visits to two people in their own home and contacted one person and four relatives by telephone.

Updated 23 November 2018

This was the first inspection of this service since it was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 12 January 2017. This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to older people. At the time of this inspection the service was providing support to 14 people.

This inspection started on 22 August 2018 and ended on 12 November 2018. The service had changed location during the inspection process so the report was delayed until this process had been completed.

A manager was in post that had completed an application to register. During the process of the inspection the manager was registered. 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.

People were cared for safely and staff understood their responsibilities to safeguard people. Risk assessments and care plans contained enough information for care workers to mitigate known risks and provide safe care. There were sufficient knowledgeable and skilled staff so people had enough staff to support them at the times they needed. Staff were knowledgeable about people's care needs. The provider acted to ensure staff were suitable to work with people before they provided care. People's medicines were managed safely. Staff took adequate precautions to reduce the spread of infection and keep people safe from harm.

People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice People were supported to have sufficient amounts to eat and drink. Staff had received an induction essential training, supervision and appraisal.

People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring. Staff developed positive and supportive relationships with people based on equality and respect.

The service involved people and their representatives in discussions about their care so they received care that met their own specific needs. Care plans were in place to reflect how people would like to receive their care and support, and these covered all aspects of a person's individual needs, preferences and choice.

The service was well-led. Everyone we spoke with was positive about the way the service was managed. The provider promoted an open and inclusive culture within the service, and staff had clear guidance on the standards of care expected of them. The provider had systems to monitor the quality of the service provided and ensured people received safe and effective care. This included seeking and responding to feedback from people to inform the standard of care.