Background to this inspection
Updated
7 June 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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
One inspector carried out this inspection.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing.
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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure the registered manager would be able to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed all of the information that we held about the service. The provider was not asked to complete 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.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at risk assessments and care plans. We spoke with one member of staff and one person using the service.
Updated
7 June 2022
About the service
Medical Express Ultimate Care Services Limited is a domiciliary care agency (DCA). It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection there was one person using the service. The registered manager also ran a care home and the DCA was based at this service. There was one member of staff who worked for the DCA and at the care home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We contacted the person who used the service and they provided us with limited information, but they were happy with the care agency.
The provider was not following their medicines policy. We made a recommendation to the provider about this. The provider did not have robust systems in place for assessing risk. We made a recommendation to the provider to update their practice.
The registered manager did not have effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. Staff understood the provider's safeguarding policies and they had effective procedures in place to keep people safe.
Staff had access to appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to help prevent the spread of infection. Staff had access to training which was appropriate to their role.
The provider had systems for handling complaints and responding to incidents and accidents which they said they would follow when complaints were made or incidents occur.
The person was supported to have maximum choice and control of their life and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. 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
The service was registered with us on 26 October 2016. However, the service had long periods of time where they were not delivering personal care to anyone. This is the service’s first inspection.
Why we inspected
We carried out this inspection following a routine review of information we held about this service. Our intelligence indicated there may be a higher level of risk at this service due to the length of time it had been registered and not been inspected.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return. If any concerning information is received, we may return to inspect.