Archived: Jewish Care East London and Essex Home Care Service

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to older adults and younger disabled adults. At the time of our visit there were 38 people using the service mainly in London borough of Redbridge and in Essex.

Not everyone using Jewish Care East London receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

On the day of our 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.

People told us they felt safe and trusted staff that looked after them. They told us there were enough staff to meet their needs and that they were informed if staff were running late.

Risk assessments for people and their environment were in place and reviewed regularly. These included fire, mobility, falls and medicines.

Medicines were managed safely by staff that had been assessed as competent at handling and medicines.

Staff were aware of the safeguarding procedures in place and were able to explain how they would recognise and report abuse.

Recruitment methods continued to be robust with all the necessary checks completed before staff started their jobs.

People were supported by staff that had undergone the necessary training, supervision and appraisal. Staff were aware of the mental capacity act and how they applied it their daily role.

Staff were aware of people’s cultural specific nutritional needs. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet. Where malnutrition was detected it was referred to other healthcare professionals for advice and monitoring.

People were cared for by staff who were polite and caring. They told us staff respected their privacy and wishes. Staff and records confirmed that people were supported to engage in meaningful activities to reduce social isolation.

Care plans were person centred and included people’s preferences and aspirations. They were reviewed regularly with people and their relatives.

There was a clear complaints policy which was understood by people and staff. Complaints were acknowledged and investigated in a timely manner.

People and their relatives thought the service was well- managed. There were effective systems in place to ensure the quality of care delivered was monitored.

Further information can be found in the detailed findings in the full report.

One person said about the staff, "All I can say is one word: fantastic! The carers do everything for me, and they help me with whatever I need.'

Another person said, 'They are very good and dedicated.' Their relative added, 'The carers are terrific. I cannot speak too highly of them. They are very attentive. Really, they are very, very good workers, all of them.'

One relative told us, 'The workers are always very pleasant, very helpful and very tolerant. They are very patient with (my relative). They seem to know what to do. I would be lost without them. Yes, I am very pleased with the service.'

We found that the service had system in place to gain and review consent from people who used the service and that people's preferences had been respected.

Staff had administered medicines to people safely. We noted that the care plans and personal records had been maintained and kept up to date. All records had been kept securely and handled in accordance with the law on data protection and confidentiality.

People we spoke with told us they felt safe, and that they knew how to raise any issues of concern. A relative told us "when we go on holiday we feel he is perfectly safe with them." We saw that staff undertook regular training, including on safeguarding vulnerable adults, dementia awareness and moving and handling. In addition, staff had regular one to one supervision with a senior member of staff. We saw that systems were in place for monitoring and assessing the quality of service provided. These included seeking the views of people who used the service and their relatives.