Shreeji Inc Ltd

Updated 30 December 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on 9 November 2017. This was an announced inspection, which meant the registered provider knew we would be visiting. This was because it was a domiciliary care agency and we wanted to make sure that the registered manager, or someone who could act on their behalf, would be available to support us with our inspection. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector and an expert by experience, who made telephone calls to people who used the service. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service and provider. We looked at any complaints we received and statutory notifications sent to us by the provider. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. In July 2017, the provider sent us a Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at the information the provider had submitted. We also contacted the local authority for their feedback on the service.

During the inspection, we spoke with the managing director, who was also the registered manager, three care staff and a care coordinator. We also spoke with 19 relatives of people who used the service for their feedback about the quality of care their family member received. We spoke with relatives because most people were unable to speak with us on the phone.

We looked at nine people’s care records and other records relating to the management of the service. This included ten staff recruitment records, training documents, rotas, accident and incident records, complaints, health and safety information, quality monitoring and medicine records.

Updated 30 December 2017

This comprehensive inspection took place on 9 November 2017 and was announced.

Shreeji Inc Limited is based in Rainham, Essex. This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to older adults.

Not everyone using Shreeji Inc 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 our inspection, 33 people were using the service, who received personal care. The provider employed 15 care staff, who visited people living in the community.

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 care homes, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff and managers had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. We have made a recommendation about the provider’s procedures on the MCA because people's capacity to make decisions and consent to their care was not always recorded clearly.

People received care at home from staff who understood their needs. They had their individual risks assessed and staff were aware of how to manage these risks.

Systems were in place to ensure people were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff were able to identify different types of abuse and knew how to report any concerns.

The provider had sufficient numbers of staff available to provide care and support to people. Staff had been recruited following criminal background checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service, to ensure they were safe and of good character.

Staff provided safe care in people’s homes. Staff had received training on handling medicines. When required, staff administered people’s medicines and recorded medicines that they administered on people's Medicine Administration Records (MAR).

Staff received training that was required for them to be able to carry out their roles effectively. They told us that they received support and encouragement from the registered manager. Senior managers took action where necessary to improve staff performance.

People were supported to meet their nutritional needs. They were registered with health care professionals and staff contacted them in emergencies.

People were treated with respect and their privacy and dignity were maintained. They were listened to by staff and were involved in making decisions about their care and support.

Care plans were person centred and provided staff with sufficient information about each person’s individual preferences and how staff should meet these to obtain positive outcomes for each person.

People were able to access information they were able to understand to help keep them informed and safe. A complaints procedure was in place. People and their relatives knew how to complain and give feedback about their care. Complaints that were received were investigated appropriately.

The provider was committed to developing the service and introducing technologies to support staff in their work.

Feedback was received from people, staff and relatives and their views were analysed to ensure the service made further quality improvements. Where improvements were required, the registered manager ensured lessons were learned to avoid repeated mistakes.

The registered manager had instilled a positive culture of working together with staff, to help develop the service and monitor the quality of care provided to people.

Staff were able to raise any concerns and were confident that they would be addressed by the management team. The management team carried out regular spot checks on staff providing care in people’s homes to ensure they followed the correct procedures.