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Archived: E.C. Care

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Oakville Cottage, Oakley Green Road, Oakley Green, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 5UP 07970 741245

Provided and run by:
E.C. Care Limited

All Inspections

6 October 2016

During a routine inspection

E.C. Care provides nursing care to younger and older adults in Maidenhead, Windsor and surrounding areas of Berkshire. The service is registered for personal care, but at the time of the inspection this regulated activity was dormant. The service employs four registered nurses, one of whom is the registered manager. Staff provide care to people within their own homes. The service can care for people with dementia, physical disabilities and sensory impairment.

At the time of the inspection, there was a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The service has had four inspections since their transitional registration on 31 December 2010. Our last inspection was on 26 February 2014 where the five standards we checked were compliant. This is the first inspection of the location under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and rating required under the Care Act 2014.

At the time of the inspection, one people received care from the service. This differed significantly to our previous inspections where numerous older adults received personal care within their homes. The person who used the service at this inspection had complex healthcare needs and required complicated nursing care. The registered manager explained they had decided to make a change in the type of care the service provided.

People were protected against abuse or neglect. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and the service appropriately determined correct staff deployment. People’s medicines were administered, stored and disposed of appropriately.

We found staff received appropriate induction, training, supervision and performance appraisals. Recruitment and selection of new staff members was robust and ensured safety for people who used the service. Consent was gained before care was commenced and people’s right to refuse care was respected.

The registered nurses were kind and caring. Comments we received indicated people were satisfied with the care they received. We determined the staff respected people’s privacy and dignity, and ensured people remained as independent as possible. People had regular opportunities to provide feedback to the service and also have a say in their care package.

The service was responsive to people’s needs. People had the ability to share their compliments, concerns and complaints in an open and transparent manner. People’s care plans were person-centred and appropriate to the care required.

Staff expressed a positive workplace culture at the service. The registered manager was skilled and knowledgeable in their role and the team worked well together. We found that the service conducted a relevant amount of checks to assess the standard of care.

26 February 2014

During a routine inspection

We spoke with people who used the service and their relatives. One person told us they thought their care was "very good". A relative of a person who used the service said the care their relative received was "absolutely fantastic".

Care was planned with the involvement of the people who use the service and reflected people's individual needs. A person who used the service told us "they ask me what I want".

There were arrangements in place to protect people from the risk of infection. Staff were supported to deliver care as the provider ensured they received mandatory training in a range of topics and regular management supervision. All staff received an annual appraisal. A person who used the service told us "I think they (the care staff) are very well trained".

There were systems in place for the provider to monitor the quality of the service provided and for the recording of complaints and incidents.

21 February 2013

During a routine inspection

We saw people and their relatives were involved in planning their care provision. One person told us 'staff always provide professional, efficient, compassionate and supportive nursing care for me. Any special needs have always been addressed immediately.' We spoke with staff, who told us they were respectful of people and their homes. One staff member told us 'when we are in someone's house we are a guest.' Another staff member told us 'if the client says no, I ask why and try to reassure them. The care plans only change with the permission of the client. We act on what they want: the client comes first.'

We saw evidence that care was assessed, planned and regularly reviewed for each person, and their wishes and needs were respected and provided for. Risks were assessed and addressed.

People we spoke with told us they felt safe with staff. We saw a policy that instructed staff how to handle safeguarding concerns, and up to date safeguarding contact details displayed in the office. Staff understood the process for raising safeguarding concerns.

23 April 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

On this occasion we did not need to speak with people who used the service as we were checking the agency's records in relation to staff training and quality assurance. This was a follow up visit to check if some minor shortfalls we had found at our last visit on 7 October 2011 had been met. During that inspection we had spoken with three service users or their relatives who told us they were happy with the service they received and overall had a high opinion of this agency.

7 October 2011

During a routine inspection

We spoke by telephone with two out of the six people who currently use this agency, and with the relative of another person who receives a service, who was unable to take part in a telephone interview themselves. People told us they were happy with the support they received and that staff treated them respectfully. All those we spoke with had been involved in their care planning arrangements and confirmed that they were consulted about any changes.

We were told that staff were well trained and that people felt safe receiving their care from this agency. Overall, people had a high opinion of the care provided by this agency, and a number of positive remarks were made. The agency and its staff were described as 'Excellent' and 'Very good' by their current clients, and none of the people we spoke to had any complaints.