Oceanic Care Services Ltd, a small domiciliary care agency in Barking serving 2 people, was rated Good across all five key questions at its August 2023 inspection. The service demonstrated safe recruitment and staffing practices, person-centred care planning, effective governance through regular audits, and a supportive management culture with no areas of concern identified.
Strengths
· People were protected from abuse; staff demonstrated clear knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities and whistleblowing procedures.
· Sufficient staffing levels with consistent care from the same staff group; relatives confirmed no missed or late visits.
· Robust recruitment processes including DBS checks, references, and right-to-work verification.
· Comprehensive training programme covering MCA, safeguarding, infection control, first aid, and food hygiene.
· Person-centred care plans regularly reviewed and aligned to individual needs, preferences, and end-of-life requirements.
Quality-Statement breakdown (21)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawGood
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Supporting people to live healthier lives, access healthcare services and supportGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; equality and diversityGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferences; End of life care and supportGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staff; Continuous learning and improving careGood
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candourGood
This was the first inspection of Oceanic Care Services Ltd since registration, conducted when the service had only been operating for approximately two months with a very limited number of people receiving care. The service was inspected but not rated as there was insufficient evidence from an adequate number of people over a consistent period to support a rating.
Concerns (4)
minorCare planning: “The care plan for one person was out of date. It stated that staff were responsible for preparing breakfast for the person but the registered manager told us they did not do this.”
minorEnd-of-life care: “Care plans did not cover end of life care. The registered manager told us people using the service at the time of our inspection were resistant to having such a care plan.”
minorGovernance: “The registered manager also said they had not yet done any audits, saying, 'There is nothing to audit at the moment because its just a few weeks (that they had been providing care to people).'”
minorSupervision / appraisal: “The registered manager said it was their intention that care staff would receive formal one to one supervision six times a year. At the time of inspection records showed staff had had one supervision meeting.”
Strengths
· Appropriate safeguarding procedures were in place and staff understood their reporting responsibilities
· Robust staff recruitment practices including DBS checks, employment references and proof of identity
· Staff received comprehensive induction training including the Care Certificate
· Electronic monitoring system used to confirm staff arrived on time for visits
· People were treated with dignity and privacy; staff demonstrated good understanding of promoting independence