FOREST HOMECARE MID & WEST ESSEX

Updated 12 November 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 team consisted of two inspectors and two Expert by Experiences. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

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 manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. Due to the pandemic, we gave a short period notice of the inspection to enable us to collate as much information as possible virtually to minimise the time spent by the inspection team visiting the provider’s office.

Inspection activity started on 5 October 2021 and ended on 22 October 2021. We visited the office location on 19 October 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we held about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider did not complete the required Provider Information Return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about the service, what it does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account in making our judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection

During the inspection

We spoke with 15 people who used the service and 27 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 12 members of staff including the registered manager, manager, compliance officer, review officer and care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records and medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We reviewed feedback received from three health and social care professionals.

Updated 12 November 2021

About the service

Forest Homecare Mid & West Essex is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection the service was providing support to 126 people. 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. All the people using the service received personal care.

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

People received care and support from a consistent team of care staff. Although people felt safe when staff visited them, they and their relatives, raised concerns about the timings of care call visits and of feeling rushed.

Recruitment procedures were safe. Staff had been recruited following relevant checks being completed.

Risk assessments were in place to manage the potential risks within people’s lives. We have made a recommendation about strengthening information within the care plans in relation to potential risks to people. People received their prescribed medicine by trained staff. Staff had access to appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to help prevent the spread of infection.

Staff received an induction when they first started work at the service. They were trained and competent to fulfil their role and responsibilities. Staff received supervision and observational checks to monitor their performance.

People were supported to maintain good health and access health care professionals. Where required, people were supported with their nutritional needs.

People and their relatives spoke positively about the kind, caring attitude of staff. People were treated with dignity and respect and their independence promoted.

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.

There were systems in place to monitor the safety and quality of the service provided.

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 30 January 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out due to the length of time the provider had been registered with CQC without receiving a formal rating.

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.