At the last inspection in January 2016, the service was rated as Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Guardian Homecare (Basildon) provides a domiciliary care service for people living in their own homes. It provides a service to older and younger adults. The inspection took place on 13 February 2018 and was announced. This was to ensure that someone would be at the office to meet with us. At the time of our inspection 49 people were receiving personal care and support from the service.

There was a registered manager in post at the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People told us they felt safe when receiving care and support and were involved in developing and reviewing their care plans. Systems were in place to protect people from abuse and harm. Risk assessments had been completed so that staff knew how to keep people and themselves safe.

There were sufficient staff with the right knowledge and skills to meet people’s needs. Staff had been recruited safely. Staff had the competence and skills to administer medicines safely and as prescribed and there was a system in place to protect people from the risks of infection. The provider recorded, reviewed and investigated incidents and accidents and took the necessary action.

People’s needs were holistically assessed and support delivered in line with current guidelines. Staff were provided with training and supervision in order for them to carry out their role effectively. People’s health needs were met as staff liaised well with health and social care professionals. People were supported to be able to have their meals as and when they wanted them, which met their nutritional needs.

People had the maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service provided staff with clear guidance. Information about people’s end of life wishes were in the process of being improved.

People told us that staff were caring and kind and were respectful of them and their property. The service was responsive to people’s needs and wishes as they listened and involved them in their care. Positive relationships had been developed and were maintained. The service was meeting the Accessible Information Standard by ensuring people’s sensory and communication needs were met.

There was an effective complaints procedure in place and people and their relatives knew who to contact if they needed to. The provider regularly assessed and monitored the quality of the service provided. Feedback from people, their relatives and staff was encouraged with regular telephone contact and reviews and these were used to make improvements to the service.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 6 January 2016.

A registered manager was in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Guardian Homecare (Basildon) provides a domiciliary care and supported living service and is registered to deliver personal care to people in their own homes. The agency employed 77 staff who provided a service to 104 people.

Staff had a good understanding and knowledge of safeguarding procedures and were clear about the actions they would take to protect the people they supported. The policy and practice of administering people’s medicines was delivered safely.

Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were appropriately assessed, managed and reviewed. Care plans were sufficiently detailed and provided an accurate description of people’s care and support needs.

People were supported to be able to eat and drink satisfactory amounts to meet their nutritional needs. People were treated with kindness and respect by staff and their dignity was maintained.

Staff understood people’s needs and provided care and support accordingly. They had a good relationship with the people they supported.

People were involved in their care planning and arrangements. An effective system was in place to respond to complaints and concerns.

The provider’s quality assurance arrangements were appropriate to ensure that where improvements to the quality of the service were identified, these were addressed.