Archived: Cera Clacton on Sea

Updated 17 December 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The service was inspected by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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 1 November 2022 and ended on 10 November 2022. We visited the location’s office on 2 November 2022 and 3 November 2022.

What we did before the 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. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people and six relatives of people who use the service about their experiences of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people's care records and medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 17 December 2022

About the service

Cera Clacton on Sea is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care and support to people in their own homes.

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. At the time of our inspection there were 41 people using the service who were in receipt of personal care.

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

We have made recommendations to the provider around safe recruitment practises. Minor improvements were needed in the staff recruitment files to ensure they met with the requirements of the regulation. The registered manager is aware and has sought to rectify any of the concerns raised. Please see the safe section of this report.

People told us they felt safe and were positive about their experience of using Cera Clacton on Sea. Peoples safety had been maximised with the systems in place and staff knew how to protect people from the risk of harm through abuse. Where concerns were raised these were reported and acted upon appropriately.

People were supported to take their medicines safely by trained staff. Checks were regularly undertaken to ensure staff continued to be competent administering medicines. Medicine audits were in place which were able to highlight any errors so appropriate action could be taken to reduce a reoccurrence.

Staff spoke positively about the service and the support they had received from the registered manager. There were sufficient staff with the right skills and training to safely and effectively meet the needs of the people the service supported.

Staff were kind and caring and treated people in a respectful manner. Staff knew people well and had knowledge about people's histories, likes and dislikes. People's equality, diversity and human rights were promoted and respected.

Peoples’ needs were fully assessed prior to a service starting with them at the centre of their care and support. Risks and preferred routines were included as part of their overall care plan and personalised to meet their individual 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.

Systems and processes were in place to review the quality of the care and support provided. This included seeking the view of people using the service. The management team were committed to providing a high-quality service to people with a strive to continuous improvement.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 6 October 2018. The new provider registration commenced 23 September 2021.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.