About the service
Empathy Care (IOW) is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to people living in their own homes. Some people lived in flats at the same place the office was located, whilst others lived 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 six people were receiving personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were supported to be safe. There were systems and processes in place to ensure people were protected from the risks of avoidable harm. The provider had a policy and procedure for safeguarding adults and the registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities.
Risk assessments were completed for people and they were supported to manage risks in their home environment, to ensure safety. There was a system to manage accidents and incidents to reduce them happening again.
There were enough staff available to support people. The staff team worked well together and knew people well.
Where people required support with their medicines, they received them on time and correctly. Staff worked with the local health professionals and pharmacies to ensure people had the correct medicine and health support at the right times.
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.
Staff had received appropriate and varied training, that supported them to carry out their role safely. They received regular supervision to help develop their skills and assist them in their role.
People told us they were happy with the service they received and thought the staff were kind and caring. There was a complaints process that people could follow if they needed to. However, people and their families were all very positive about the service provided.
People and their families were involved in the development of personalised care plans that were reviewed regularly. Staff were skilled in delivering care in the way people preferred. This ensured people’s preferred routines were met.
There was a clearly defined management structure and regular oversight and input from the provider’s representative. The management team carried out regular checks on the quality and safety of the service. Staff felt supported by the management and told us the registered manager and providers were approachable and they felt valued.
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 2 January 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date the service was first registered with CQC.