We carried out a review of the data available to us about ExemplaCare on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about ExemplaCare, you can give feedback on this service.
ExemplaCare is registered as a domiciliary care service and nurses agency, it provides personal care to people in Buckingham and the surrounding villages. At the time of our inspection there were 31 people using the service.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and relatives told us they were happy with the service they received. Comments included, “My overall impression of this service is excellent,” “My carers are excellent. They are very good company for me. They take me for a walk and I am very happy with them all. I have no complaints at all” and “They are all very kind towards her and I know she enjoys having them with her.”
We found improvements could be made to recruitment practices. We found the service was unable to evidence all the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in respect of safe recruitment. We have made a recommendation about this.
We found improvements could be made with ensuring records relating to people who may have dementia or other cognitive impairments were accurate. Some records referred to decisions being made in the person’s ‘best interest’ however other documents referred to the person as having capacity to consent. We have made a recommendation about this in the report.
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 could be improved to support this practice. For instance, the Mental Capacity Act policy referred to care homes and hospitals.
We found improvements could be made in how the service maintained and checked records for accuracy. We have made a recommendation about this in the report.
People were supported by staff who demonstrated they were kind and compassionate. Staff were interested in people and supported them with their own hobbies and interests.
People had support from staff who responded to any changes in needs. Referrals to external healthcare professionals were made in a timely manner. People were routinely treated with dignity and respect by office and care staff. People told us, “They show respect towards me just by how courteous they are, they are all kind and compassionate towards me” and “They do seem to respect people's life choices and will never just assume that they can carry on and do things without checking first that it is alright to carry on.”
The service worked well with external professionals and helped people to remain in their own home. One health care professional told us they found the service to be “extremely approachable, accommodating and knowledgeable.”
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 5 March 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.