20 January 2015
During a routine inspection
We undertook an announced inspection of Carewatch (East London) domiciliary care agency on 20 January 2015.
We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming. The Carewatch (East London) agency provides personal care services to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection approximately 120 people were receiving a personal care service.
At our last inspection in November 2013 the service was meeting the regulations inspected.
People told us they felt safe and that staff treated them well. Policies and procedures were in place in relation to safeguarding people. Staff understood how to protect the people they supported from abuse. Sufficient staff were employed to meet people’s needs.
Staff received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had received the training required to support people with their care and support needs.
Senior staff carried out regular unannounced checks on the staff team and their working practices were observed. There was an out of hours on call system in operation, which ensured that management support and advice was available for staff.
Staff knew the people they were supporting. Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported and they were involved in making decisions about their care. People told us they liked the staff and staff knew how to look after them.
People were supported to eat and drink. Staff supported people, if they wished, to liaise with their GP and other healthcare professionals as required to meet their needs.
The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager was approachable. Staff, people who used the service and relatives felt able to speak with the manager and provided feedback on the service. The senior staff undertook spot checks to review the quality of the service provided.