Background to this inspection
Updated
21 January 2020
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
The inspection was carried out 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 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 16 December 2019 and ended on 23 December 2019. We visited the office location on 18 December 2019. On the 16, 20 and 23 December we contacted people, their relatives and external health and social care professionals for feedback. We reviewed evidence sent to us from the service. On the 20 December 2019 we visited one person in their own home and met with their live-in care worker.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Throughout the inspection we gave the provider and registered manager opportunities to share with us what they did well and tell us of any planned changes.
We looked at information we held about the service and any feedback we had received since the last inspection. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the service’s managing director who is the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We spoke with the registered manager, office manager, recruitment manager and two care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records in full and a further one in respect of end of life care planning. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. Information requested was sent to us promptly and securely. We continued to receive feedback from people, their relatives and staff.
Updated
21 January 2020
About the service
Eximius Live-in Care Limited is registered to provide personal care and support to people in their own homes. The service provides live-in care workers to people living in their own home. 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. At the time of the inspection the service supported 18 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People’s experience of being supported by the service was exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led. People were supported to live the life they choose and celebrate their cultural needs. Comments from people and their relatives included “Both excellent at keeping mum as active as possible, and making sure she is mentally stimulated”, “We have had live in care for our mother from Eximius since the company first opened, the companions chosen for mum are matched to her individual needs and requirements. They continue to amaze us with their level of dedication to their role.”
People were supported by care workers who were exceptionally caring and compassionate. People told us “So far as I am concerned the care which Eximius provides has been of a very high quality”, “I have had three excellent carers who each have come for long periods and have been very hard working and caring and a pleasure to have in my house” and “[Name of care worker] is exemplary.”
People received an exceptionally responsive service. People were supported by staff who supported them to continue with their role in society and family life.
People described the service as exceptionally well-led. One person told us the nominated individual was “An exceptional person, with her passion and desire to provide a caring and compassionate service.” Other people described the managed team as, “Exemplary”, “Reliable” and were of “Full of praise of the care and service they give.” Another person told us “Appropriately qualified carers had been excellent and contact both with the carer and the Eximius management has been easy and efficient.”
People were supported by care workers who had been matched to meet their individual needs. Attention was placed on ensuring care workers had the right skills, experience and life knowledge to engage with people in a meaningful way.
People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm as care workers were skilled in assessing and monitoring safety. The service provided the required documentation on how care workers should minimise risk of harm to people.
People were supported by care workers who recognised the need to refer people to external healthcare professionals when needed. The service worked well with other bodies to promote people’s health and well-being
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 support this practice.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 14 June 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.