Elmcare Solutions Ltd

Updated 2 November 2019

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was completed 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. The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

We gave the provider 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 September 2019 and ended on 08 October 2019. We visited the office location on 20 September 2019.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the

information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are

required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager and we reviewed the care records for the person receiving support from the service. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Following the inspection

We spoke with one member of staff and one person who was supported by the service to gain their views.

Updated 2 November 2019

About the service

Elmcare Solutions is a service which provides care for one person living in the community. 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

There was a registered manager who had been in post since the service was registered. Since our last inspection the provider had terminated their r contract with a local authority and most of the people using the service had moved to different providers.

There were enough staff to ensure people were safe. Where risks associated with people's health and wellbeing had been identified, plans were in place to manage those risks while ensuring people could remain independent. Staff had received training to safeguard people from harm and knew how to report concerns.

People's care was person centred and was responsive to their individual needs. Staff had received training to understand how to support people well. Care records provided information in relation to people's backgrounds, interests and care needs.

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; systems supported this practice. The registered manager ensured care was based upon good practice guidance to help ensure people received an effective service. Promoting independence was encouraged and people were offered choices.

The registered manager and staff team worked closely with external healthcare professionals to ensure people's health and wellbeing was maintained.

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

The last rating for this service was Good (published 23 March 2017). At this inspection the rating has remained the same.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.