The inspection of Bestchoice Global Ltd took place on the 16 July 2018 and was announced. The provider was given two days notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service. Bestchoice Global Ltd is registered to provide Personal Care services to people in their own homes. The services they provide include personal care, housework and assisting people to take their medicines. At the time of this inspection, the registered manager informed us that there were 15 people who used the service with a mixture of palliative care needs and other care needs. This is the first inspection of the service since it was newly registered in February 2017.

Not everyone using Bestchoice Global Ltd receives a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

The service has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People we contacted were not able to speak with us because of their ill health. We however, received positive feedback from their relatives. They informed us that they were satisfied with the care and services provided. They told us that people had been treated with respect and dignity by their care workers. There was a safeguarding adults’ policy and care workers were aware of the procedure to follow if they suspected people were being abused.

The service had a policy and procedure for the administration of medicines. Medicines administration records (MAR) charts we looked at had been correctly completed and we found no gaps in them. This provided a level of assurance that people were receiving their medicines as prescribed.

Risk assessments were seen in the care records of people. However, some of them were not sufficiently comprehensive as they did not inform care workers of what specific risks may be experienced by people concerned and how to keep people safe. These included risk of falls and seizures. Risk assessment forms for these were provided soon after the inspection.

The service had a recruitment procedure to ensure that care workers recruited were suitable and had the appropriate checks prior to being employed. We examined a sample of five records of care workers. We noted that these records had the necessary documentation such as a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS), references, evidence of identity and permission to work in the United Kingdom. We found three of these records did not contain references from a previous employer although two of them had professional references and one had character references. The registered manager explained that these care workers had not previously been employed.

The service had a training programme to ensure care workers were competent and able to care effectively for people. Certificates were seen in the records of care workers. They had the necessary support and supervision from the registered manager. Teamwork and communication within the service was good. New care workers had received a comprehensive induction.

Care workers were caring in their approach and able to form positive relationships with people. There were arrangements for encouraging people and their representatives to express their views and make suggestions regarding the care provided. Individual assessments and care plans had been prepared for people. However, the care documentation lacked information regarding people’s cultural and religious background. After the inspection, the registered manager provided us with their assessment form for recording this information. Reviews of care had been carried ou