Essential Care and Support Ltd was rated Good overall following a focused inspection of the Safe and Well-led domains on 18 October 2023, with effective, caring and responsive ratings carried forward from the previous 2018 inspection. The service demonstrated strong person-centred care and safeguarding practices, with a minor recommendation issued regarding incomplete 'as required' medicines records and the need for more detailed medicines auditing.
Concerns (2)
minorMedication management: “records were not always up to date for 'as and when required' medicines.”
minorGovernance: “these had not picked up changes needed to people's 'as and when required' medicines.”
Strengths
· Staff had worked with people for a considerable time and knew them extremely well, including their likes, dislikes and personal preferences.
· People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.
· Care was person centred and staff supported people to achieve their ambitions and live their best life possible.
· Adequate staffing levels with relatives and staff confirming enough staff to support people and meet their needs in a personalised way.
· Robust safeguarding processes in place with staff trained and aware of when and how to report concerns.
Quality-Statement breakdown (10)
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive, and empoweringGood
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candourGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood