Caremark (Sevenoaks & Tandridge) Also known as Caremark (SevTan)

Updated 14 March 2023

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

Our inspection was completed by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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 homes.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 20 February 2023 and ended on 24 February 2024. We visited the location’s office on 20 February 2023.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We used information gathered as part of monitoring activity that took place in October 2022 to help plan the inspection and inform our judgements.

During the inspection

We called and spoke with 2 people and 2 relatives of people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. At the office we spoke with the registered manager and the provider. We called and spoke with 2 members of staff.

We reviewed a range of records including 3 people's care plans and daily care notes. We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service including three staff recruitment files, training and supervision records and spot checks.

Updated 14 March 2023

About the service

Caremark (Sevenoaks & Tandridge) provides personal care and support to older people and people with disabilities living in their own homes. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. At the time of our inspection 4 people received personal care.

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

The risk assessments were generic and not specific to the person’s individuals needs. Incidents were not always reviewed by the registered manager to check for trends and themes. We have made a recommendation around this. Staff however were aware of the risks associated with people’s care and what to do if there was an incident.

People were asked for feedback and had the opportunity to influence changes to their care package. However, the audits were not always robust in identifying that risk assessments were not detailed and specific to the person. The registered manager told us they were taking steps to address this.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to provide care. There was travel time in between calls and staff stayed for the full length of the call. There were systems in place to monitor whether staff were late for a call or if they had not turned up for a call.

Care plans reflected information on the person’s background and their wishes around care. Staff were aware of the care that people needed. Staff also communicated the needs of people through care notes and meetings.

Systems were in place to ensure that staff received appropriate training and supervision to ensure that safe and effective care was delivered. People fed back that staff were caring and considerate towards them. People maintained good relationships with staff and were treated in a dignified and respectful way.

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.

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 22 December 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was also prompted by a review of the information we held about this service and as part of our inspection scheduling for newly registered services.

Follow up

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