Gemini Exclusive Care

Updated 10 January 2023

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.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by 1 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

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 13 December 2022 and ended on 14 December 2022. We visited the location’s office on 13 December 2022 and made calls to people and staff on 14 December 2022.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 9 people who used the service, and 3 relatives of people who were using the service. We also spoke with 4 staff members, and the registered manager. We looked at multiple documents including care plans, staff recruitment files, audits and risk assessments. The registered manager also sent us supporting documents via email after our office visit.

Updated 10 January 2023

Gemini Exclusive Care is a domiciliary care service providing personal to people 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 our inspection there were 85 people receiving personal care using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were supported safely by staff. Systems and processes were in place to monitor this. Recruitment procedures ensured that only suitable staff were employed to support people. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs.

People received the support they required with their medicines. Staff worked consistently within the providers policy and procedure for infection prevention and control. Staff said they had a constant supply of personal protective equipment for use.

People’s needs were assessed and reviewed in detail before receiving a service. People’s health care needs were documented, and staff knew when to liaise with health care professionals as required. Staff had the knowledge and experience to meet people’s needs.

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.

Feedback from people and relatives told us that people were supported with respect and dignity, and they had their independence promoted when required.

Complaints procedures were in place and staff told people how to use them. The providers systems and processes monitored the quality of the service being provided. People’s views and were sought through surveys, which were analysed and used to identify where improvements were needed.

The registered manager ensured that checks and audits were in place and used effectively to drive improvements. Staff were supported through ongoing monitoring and good communication. Information was shared with staff to support in the delivery of good quality care .

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement report published 14 February 2020.

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Gemini Exclusive Care on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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