Manorcourt Homecare is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in two independent living, extra care schemes and for people in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service predominantly to older people. People using the service lived in 20 of 30 flats in the Clacton extra care scheme and 9 of 18 flats in the Colchester extra care scheme. 27 people also received a service in their own residential houses and ordinary flats across Clacton on Sea, Colchester and the surrounding areas.

This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is bought or rented, and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.

Not everyone using Manorcourt Homecare receives personal care; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where people received personal care we also took into account any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection the registered provider was providing support to a total of 56 people across the independent living, extra care schemes and those people living in their own residential homes and flats.

A registered manager was in post. 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 in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At the last inspection in July 2015, the service was rated 'Good'. At this inspection we found the service had maintained a rating of ‘Good’'.

People who used the service and their relatives told us they felt safe. They told us staff were reliable, caring, respectful in their approach and knew them well.

Robust recruitment procedures were in place. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and were aware of the correct action to take if they witnessed or suspected any abuse.

The registered provider evidenced and promoted person centred care and support for people. Care records were very detailed and person centred and contained information about people's health and social care needs.

Risk assessments and care plans provided staff with sufficient detail to guide them on how best to support people. They contained information about people's preferences and routines and guided staff on how to promote people's independence. A system was in place to ensure care plans were regularly reviewed and updated.

People were supported to access the community, healthcare appointments and places of interest to them.

Arrangements were in place to help ensure the prevention and control of infection and staff were provided with appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves and aprons.

Staff received training in administration of medicines and systems in place ensured people received their medicines safely.

The provider was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Staff were able to tell us how they supported people to make their own decisions. The manager in the service was aware of the process to follow should a person lack the capacity to consent to their care.

Staff received an induction and were provided with a wide range of training that would help them carry out their roles effectively. Staff had regular supervisions and team meetings and told us they felt very well supported by the organisation and managers from the service. Staff told us they enjoyed the work they did and enjoyed working for the service.

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The inspection took place on 22 July 2015. Manorcourt Homecare is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care and domestic support to older people who may have a mental health need in their own homes. The agency also provides care within two extra care schemes in Clacton and Colchester. There are currently 95 people using the service.

The service has a registered manager. 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.

There were systems in place which provided guidance for staff on how to safeguard the people who used the service from the potential risk of abuse. Staff understood the various types of abuse and knew who to report any concerns to.

There were procedures and processes in place to ensure the safety of the people who used the service. People were safe because staff understood their responsibilities in managing risk. Where people required assistance to take their medicines there were arrangements in place to provide this support safely.

There were sufficient numbers of care workers who were well supported to meet the needs of the people who used the service. Care workers had good relationships with people who used the service.

Staff received regular training relevant to their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs. Where people required assistance with their dietary needs there were systems in place to provide this support safely.

People or their representatives, where appropriate, were involved in making decisions about their care and support. Care plans provided guidance for staff, had been tailored to the individual and contained information about how they communicated and their ability to make decisions.

Where care workers had identified concerns in people’s wellbeing there were systems in place to contact health and social care professionals to make sure they received appropriate care and treatment.

Care workers understood their roles and responsibilities in providing safe and good quality care to the people who used the service.

A complaints procedure was in place. People’s concerns and complaints were listened to, addressed in a timely manner and used to improve the service.

The service had a quality assurance system and shortfalls were addressed. As a result the quality of the service continued to improve.

The people who used Manorcourt Homecare were very happy with their care and support. They spoke highly of the staff and said they were kind and caring, usually punctual, friendly, courteous and respectful. People felt involved in their care arrangements and knew who to call if they needed to speak to someone. They felt safe with the staff and had no complaints about the service.

Staff told us that Manorcourt Homecare was a good company to work for. The management were flexible and approachable and we saw that good opportunities for training were provided.

At the time of our inspection on 09 September 2013, we saw that monitoring systems for involving and caring for people and managing the service were in place.

We noted that there were processes in place for the reporting of safeguarding incidents and that these procedures were followed.

Effective staff support systems including supervision and annual appraisals were in place.