Expert Care Worcester

Updated 21 May 2022

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 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.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 25 April 2022 and ended on 28 April 2022. We visited the location’s office on 25 April 2022.

What we did before the inspection

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 also reviewed information we held about the service such as statutory notifications and feedback from others. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager and a care assistant. We reviewed three people’s care records and the medicines administration records (MAR) for one person. We reviewed documents such as incident and accident and safeguarding records. Following the inspection, we reviewed staff files and received feedback from three relatives of people receiving care from the service. We were unable to make contact with any people using the service.

Updated 21 May 2022

About the service

Expert Care Worcester is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care for older people or those with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 6 people using the service.

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

People received safe care from a team of staff that understood how to respond to potential safeguarding concerns. Medicines were administered at times that people needed them. People and relatives reported that staff were on time to deliver care. Incidents and accidents were responded to appropriately.

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 received suitable training, supervision and appraisal to support them in delivering effective care. Other healthcare professionals were consulted to ensure that people’s healthcare needs were met. Steps were in place to ensure people were supported to eat and drink, in line with their preferences.

People and relatives felt that staff were caring and treated them with dignity and respect. Staff knew people’s care needs well and we reviewed positive feedback about the nurturing and considerate nature in the ways staff cared for people. People were supported to be as independent as they were able to be.

Care records were personalised and detailed people’s history and the ways they wished to be cared for. People were consulted on their views about their end of life wishes. Complaints were responded to efficiently.

The registered manager was clear on their role and responsibilities and ran a service that people, staff and relatives were happy with. Quality assurance systems, and engagement with others reviewed the running of the service and supported improvements.

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

This service was registered with us on 29 December 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We inspected this service as their first inspection since their registration with the Care Quality Commission.

Follow up

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