The Care Quality Commission
  • Services in your home
  • Homecare service

Archived: Choice Care

Office 39 Victoria Commerical Centre, Station Approach, Victoria, Roche, St Austell, Cornwall, PL26 8LG (01726) 824367

Provided and run by:
Hannah Mary Webb

All Inspections

26 November 2013

During a routine inspection

We carried out the short announced visit as part of our planned schedule of inspections. Choice Care is a small domiciliary care agency providing care and treatment to twelve people mainly around the Bugle, Tregony, Penwithick and St Austell areas. There were five care staff employed and the registered manager who is also the provider.

We visited two people in the community who received a service and this included their partners who were present at the time of the visit and spoke with two people over the telephone about their care and treatment. One person said "I know all five staff very well and the staff are flexible, listen and support me to be independent, "another person said "every single one of them explained things to me and the quality of care was excellent".

We met two members of staff who were in people's homes providing care and treatment. The two members of staff have been with the agency for four and five years respectively. Comments made to us were positive and one member of staff said "we are very well supported by the manager", another member of staff said "the manager is one of us and does exactly the same work".

The registered manager told us that staff employed by the service received ongoing support and guidance because they worked alongside staff. There were informal systems in place to monitor and assess the service that people were provided with. An example of those were spot checks, discussions with staff in the car or outside people's homes and regular feedback from people who received a service. People told us that complaints are listened to and acted upon.

29 August 2012

During a themed inspection looking at Domiciliary Care Services

We carried out a themed inspection looking at domiciliary care services. We asked people to tell us what it was like to receive services from this home care agency as part of a targeted inspection programme of domiciliary care agencies.

The inspection team was led by a CQC inspector joined by an Expert by Experience, who has experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of service.

We used telephone interviews and home visits to people who used the service and to their main carers (a relative or friend).

We visited four people and spoke to seven people over the telephone. Overall people

told us the care workers provided a good level of care which protected their dignity and promoted their independence, comments included they [care workers] 'speak with respect.' and they 'Keep me covered up, I feel comfortable with them'.

When we asked four people we spoke with if they felt that they received care that was personalised and met their individual needs? They all said they did. One person said 'oh yes, certainly' and another said that the 'care plan is absolutely perfect'.

All of the people we spoke to in their own homes told us they felt safe. One person said 'I think the world of them'.

Five people told us that their care needs had not changed since receiving support from the agency. Others told us that they had noted changes and 'dealt with it very well'. Another person told us that they had been 'kept informed' and the staff 'had adapted' adding that they now stayed for an hour instead of forty five minutes

Three people told us that they would happily discuss any issues with the provider when she visited. Other comments included; the 'standard of care is really good', 'I'm delighted with the company', 'their whole demeanour is correct' and 'I'd give them nine out of ten - no, perhaps ten'.