Background to this inspection
Updated
10 December 2021
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 we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 9 November 2021 and ended on 10 November 2021. We visited the office location on 10 November 2021.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. The provider completed 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 two members of staff including the registered manager and one care worker. We spoke with one person about their experience of the care provided. We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s care records. We looked at one staff file 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.
Updated
10 December 2021
About the service
Ero HealthCare LTD is a domiciliary service which provides personal care to adults with a range of support needs in their own houses and flats. At the time of this inspection the service was supporting one person with personal care.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is to 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
Systems and processes to ensure good oversight of the service required improvement. Medicine records had not always been completed in line with best practice. Audits of care records had not identified that they were not always sufficiently detailed, for example in relation to a person’s health needs or in documenting that care had been offered in line with care plan.
Staff had received training in infection control and demonstrated an understanding of what personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used when supporting people. Staff wore PPE when going into people’s homes.
The service had only one person who received personal care. They were always supported by the same member of staff. Staff were trained in administering medicines safely. Staff received training on safeguarding and understood how to recognise and report abuse.
Staff supported people with their eating, drinking and to access healthcare support. People were able to give feedback about their care in a variety of ways. Examples included care reviews and during spot checks monitoring staff performance.
Staff had good knowledge about the people they supported and told us they enjoyed working at the service. People's independence was promoted and respected.
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 16 November 2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was carried out due to the length of time the provider had been registered with CQC without receiving a formal rating.
We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well-led
sections of this report.
Follow up
We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.