Background to this inspection
Updated
2 April 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 undertaken 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 12 March 2020 and ended on 18 March 2020. Due to the social distancing measures in response to the Corona virus outbreak we were not able to meet with the registered manager face to face. However, we conducted a telephone conference on 18 March 2020 to obtain the registered manager’s feedback and to provide an opportunity for them to contribute to the inspection process.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included 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, training records, audits and meeting minutes.
Updated
2 April 2020
About the service
Eureka Care Services Limited is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people living in their own homes in the community. When we inspected, they were providing the regulated activity of personal care for 12 people. 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider had significantly improved their recruitment and governance systems since the last inspection in March 2019. Regular checks of key areas had been introduced, and strengthened, which helped to ensure improvements were sustained and any identified shortfalls were effectively managed in a timely manner.
People had safe and effective support from a team of care workers who received appropriate training and support. People were protected from harm because the provider had a robust recruitment process and staff received training in how to recognise and report abuse. People’s care calls took place in a timely manner and there had not been any missed care calls. Staff had received training in infection control practices and personal protective equipment such as gloves and aprons was provided for them. The management team took appropriate actions following any incidents and learning was shared with the staff team.
Before care delivery started, assessments of people’s needs were undertaken to help make sure those needs could be met by Eureka Care Services Limited. Care plans were developed from these assessments for each identified need and staff had clear guidance on how to meet those 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; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People and their relatives praised the kind and caring nature of staff. People received consistent care from a small team of staff. Staff helped to relieve people’s distress and discomfort, and supported people to maintain personal relationships. People knew about their care plans and could decide what care and support they received. People’s care was arranged in response to their identified needs. This was kept under review and updated as and when needed.
People told us they would be confident to raise any concerns with the management. Everyone we spoke with during the inspection was satisfied with the care and support they received. People, their relatives and staff members spoke highly of the registered manager and said they were always available and supportive.
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 Requires Improvement (published 14/03/2019). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.
Since this rating was awarded the service has moved premises. We have used the previous rating and enforcement action taken to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.
At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.