Archived: The Essex Care Group

Essex Care Group is a family run domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. 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 inspection, the service was providing personal care and support to 15 people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People felt safe and spoke positively about care workers because they had confidence in their knowledge and skills. Staff had been recruited safely following completion of relevant checks. We have made a recommendation about best practice recording of recruitment documentation.

Prescribed medicine was administered by trained staff. We have made a recommendation about the management of some medicines. Staff were provided appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) which they used effectively to prevent spread of infection.

Staff had received safeguarding training and knew how to act on any concerns. All staff completed a comprehensive induction. Competency was monitored through spot checks and supervisions. The registered manager valued continuous learning and supported staff to complete additional qualifications in health and social care.

Care planning documentation detailed specific guidance to ensure individualised care could be provided safely. Risks had been identified and were managed by appropriate assessments. People’s nutritional needs were supported effectively, where required. People were also supported to access healthcare.

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.

Staff were respectful to people, relatives and their homes. People and their relatives consistently told us staff were kind and they were given the time they needed to be cared for safely, with respect. People and relatives were contacted regularly, formally and informally to ensure people were actively involved in their care provision. We have made a recommendation about best practice documenting of end of life care records.

Staff promoted independence by taking time to understand what people needed support with, which enabled people to feel in control and remain as independent as possible. The service was keen to make improvements to ensure everyone can receive information in a way they can understand. Information about how to complain was provided to people. Staff and people’s feedback was gathered and analysed with the intent to improve care quality.

Although there were systems in place to monitor the safety and quality of the service provided, these systems and processes were still being modified and developed by the registered manager and support team. It needs to be demonstrated going forward that developments made are embedded and sustained.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 24/09/2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection because the service had not been inspected or rated.

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.