ECare Community achieved a Good rating across all five key questions at its first inspection since 2017, demonstrating safe, person-centred domiciliary and reablement care for approximately 114 people in north Essex. Minor issues identified during inspection—including incomplete risk assessment detail, a gap in staff employment history, a pharmacy medicines concern, and a document font-size shortfall—were all addressed promptly by the provider.
Concerns (4)
moderate
Medication management
: “We had identified a concern relating to how the pharmacy had provided a person with their medicines and how this could impact on the support provided by the service.”
minorRecord keeping: “we found some of the risk assessments did not give clear, personalised guidance to match what we were told. Action was taken during the inspection to 'streamline' the information.”
minorStaff competency: “we noted a staff member had not provided a full employment history. Action was taken during the inspection to obtain the missing information.”
minorCommunication with families: “the service user guide and introduction to reablement guide we had been sent was produced in a smaller than the minimum expected standard font size of 12 pt.”
Strengths
· People felt safe and reported no missed visits; staff provided courtesy calls when running late.
· Dedicated onboarding manager supported new staff through their first 6 weeks, promoting skills and confidence.
· Strong reablement focus with evidence of people regaining independence and confidence after hospital discharge.
· Robust medicines management including competency checks, spot checks, and audits for safe administration.
· Person-centred culture with staff valuing dignity, independence, and individual preferences.
Quality-Statement breakdown (22)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
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: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely careGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting 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 preferencesGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staff; continuous learning and improving careGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candour; working in partnership with othersGood
ECare Community, a small domiciliary care service in Tendring, Essex, was rated Good across all five key questions at its announced inspection on 12 January 2017. The service demonstrated consistent, person-centred care delivery underpinned by effective governance, robust medicines management, and a stable, well-regarded leadership team with no regulatory breaches identified.
Strengths
· Regular, consistent staff allocation fostering trust and familiarity with people's needs and preferences
· Robust medicines management with three competency assessments before independent administration and three-monthly re-checks
· Electronic visit monitoring system with 15-minute alert for missed or late visits
· Strong safeguarding training with staff able to articulate signs of abuse and reporting pathways
· Thorough recruitment process including DBS checks, reference verification, and gap exploration at interview