Background to this inspection
Updated
17 June 2021
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
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a registered manager, who was also the provider. This means that they are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
Our inspection was announced. We gave the provider short period of notice 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 17 May 2021 and ended on 25 May 2021. We visited the office location on 20 May 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed the information we already held about the service. This included details of its registration and previous inspection reports. 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.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager who was also the provider of the service. We reviewed two people's care files and one staff file in relation to recruitment and supervision. We also reviewed records relating to quality assurance and the provider's policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We spoke with one care staff by telephone. We continued to seek further evidence and clarification from the provider, which we have included in the report.
Updated
17 June 2021
About the service
Eliz's Domiciliary Care Agency LTD provides personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of our visit, the service provided a waking night support to two people who lived in the same house.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were supported by the same staff who knew them well and met their needs. Staff recruitment processes were robust. Staff were experienced, trained and supported by the registered manager to carry out their duties providing effective personal care.
The provider’s policies and procedures of adult safeguarding ensured people were protected from abuse. The service had infection control protocols in place to ensure the risk of infections was managed. Staff managed the impact of Covid-19 well.
Risk assessments were completed, and care plans were personalised. People were encouraged and supported to make their own decisions about their care. They were able to choose what to eat, when to go to bed and how to take their medicines. They were able to choose to receive personal care from different agencies.
There was a good management system in place. Audits of various aspect of the service were undertaken. This ensured records were up to date and any shortfalls were identified and addressed so people were safe, and their needs met.
People had opportunity to influence the quality of the service by sharing their views with the provider. The registered manager was clear about their responsibility under duty of candour, and learning from incidents, accidents and new ideas of providing effective care. Staff worked with health and social care authorities to ensure people received care and support 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 requires improvement (published 30 July 2019).
We undertook this focused inspection to check the provider had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Eliz's Domiciliary Care Agency LTD on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.