Our Inspection Report Summary Expresses how high we value our clients.

In July 2008 we had an announced inspection from the Commission of Social Care Inspection. This is a governmental agency whose job is to ensure that Providers such as us operate according to set standards set by the government. Summary as follows...  

SUMMARY

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection. 

The quality rating for this service is “2 star.” This means the people who use this service experience good quality outcomes. 

The information in this report is based on an unannounced visit to the agency office in Welwyn Garden City by one regulation inspector carrying out the work of the Commission. For the purposes of this report the Commission will be referred to as ‘we’. 

During the visit we spoke with the manager and the co-proprietor who also works in the office. We looked at the systems in operation and examined a selection of records. 

At the time of the inspection the agency had 15 service users. We visited two of these people and spoke with another two on the telephone. The resulting findings and comments made are included in this report. 

The manager has completed and returned a self-assessment questionnaire, sent out by the Commission. This is the Annual Quality Assurance Assessment document, called the AQAA in this report. We have included information from this document in this report. 

Quality surveys have also been distributed to service users and staff and comments from those already returned have been included in this inspection report. 

It should also be noted that, as this is the first inspection since the agency was registered with the Commission, it would not be possible under current regulations to rate the service higher than “2 star”. 

What the service does well: 

The agency is currently run to extremely high standards and provides a very personalised service to people who use its services. The manager assesses everyone who wishes to use the service and introduces each member of staff in person. 

The manager also undertakes frequent checks on staff to ensure the care is provided as agreed with the people who are using the service. All requested changes to care provision are also implemented accurately and immediately. 

People we spoke with and those who returned surveys, all praised the care staff, saying they are well trained and professional. Comments include that “care workers are superb” and “care workers are always on time”. 

Everyone we contacted said they were more than satisfied with the agency and one said they had used the services of other agencies and Caremark were “by far the best”. Another user of the service said the agency “has been excellent right from the beginning”. Another user we spoke with said they “could not fault the agency at all and were recommending the agency to lots of other people “. 

What has improved since the last inspection? 

Not applicable. 

What they could do better: 

No requirements have been made as a result of this inspection.