Essex Community Support & Enabling Service Also known as Heathcroft

Updated 19 April 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type:

The service is a domiciliary care agency. People receive a personal care service within their own home and it is the personal care that is regulated by CQC. Not everyone using Essex Community Support & Enabling Services 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. At the time of the inspection there were 10 people who used the service that received personal care.

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 because we wanted to be certain the registered manager and key staff would be available on the day of our inspection visit. We also wanted to give them sufficient time to make arrangements with people so we could visit them in their homes to find out their experience of using the service.

What we did:

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service and the provider. The registered manager completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information that we request that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and any further developments they plan to make. We looked at the notifications we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law.

Inspection site visit activity started on 20 March 2019 when we visited the service and ended on 28 March 2019 when we provided feedback. During the visit to the service we spoke with the registered manager and four members of staff. We visited four people who used the service in their own flats. We reviewed the care records of three people to check they were receiving their care as planned. We looked at records relating to the management of the service, staff recruitment and training, and systems for monitoring the quality of the service.

We received electronic feedback from one person who used the service, two relatives, one member of staff and two community professionals.

Updated 19 April 2019

About the service:

¿ Essex Community Support & Enabling Service provides care and support to people living in individual flats within a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

At the time of our inspection there were 10 people who received personal care. The service supported adults including people with mental health needs, physical disabilities, learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder.

People’s experience of using this service:

¿ People and relatives were positive about the service provided.

¿ Staff supported people to keep safe, and acted when necessary to prevent any harm or abuse.

¿ Risks to people’s health, safety and welfare were managed well.

¿ Safe recruitment practices were followed with enough staff to cover people’s planned visits.

¿ People's care and support led to good outcomes. Staff were sufficiently trained and had the skills and knowledge to meet people’s individual needs.

¿ People received care in a manner which was in accordance with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

¿ Where required, people were supported with their dietary needs, to maintain good health and access healthcare services where needed.

¿ Staff had developed good relationships with people, treating them with kindness and compassion. They protected people’s privacy and dignity and promoted their independence.

¿ Care plans were person centred and up to date. Staff were responsive in identifying and reviewing changes to meet people’s needs.

¿ People’s feedback was valued and used to improve the service.

¿ Complaints were managed in line with the provider's procedure.

¿ Systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service were effective.

Rating at last inspection: This was the first inspection for this service.

Why we inspected: We inspected this service in line with our inspection schedule for services currently rated as good.

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 information is received that we need to follow up we may inspect sooner.

See more information in Detailed Findings below.