Easy Living Care Limited

Updated 7 November 2019

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

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 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We visited three people living in their home with their permission and observed staff as they supported people and spent time with them. We spoke with 12 people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with ten members of staff including the providers, registered manager, administrator and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and their medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We spoke with two professionals who regularly work with the service.

Updated 7 November 2019

About the service

Easy Living Care Limited is a domiciliary care agency. At the time of our inspection, the service provided personal care and support to 68 people who lived in their own homes. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene, medicines management and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. The service covers the main towns of Tiverton, Cullompton and the surrounding villages.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People received support from caring, committed and compassionate staff. A strong caring ethos was promoted by the registered manager and company directors, which ensured the staff team kept people at the heart of the service.

People who used the service, and their relatives, described a reliable service. They confirmed visits were not missed and staff arrived when expected. They said the service was safe and they were complimentary about the standard of care provided. Comments included, “Staff are so sweet; we trust them, they know their job. They are very professional but friendly at the same time” and “I am happy with everything. they are all marvellous”.

People were safe and protected from avoidable harm because staff knew how to identify and report any concerns relating to the risk of abuse. Risks to people’s health, safety and well-being were assessed, and measures put in place to reduce the risks. People’s medicines were managed safely. People were supported by staff who had been safely recruited.

Staff had received appropriate training and had their competency assessed to help ensure they were sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff knew people well and ensured their preferred routines were met. People were involved with planning and reviewing their care. Care records were written in a sensitive and person centred way.

A complaints procedure was in place, which people confirmed they were aware of. People’s concerns and complaints were listened to, addressed in a timely manner and resolved quickly.

People said the service was well managed. There were effective systems in place to monitor the safety and quality of the service. Regular feedback about the quality of the service people received had been sought. Where improvements had been identified there were on-going plans for improving people’s experience of the service.

Rating at last inspection - The last rating for this service was Good (published 06 February 2017).

Why we inspected - This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up - We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk