About the service: Care Support Essex Branch is an extra care service that provides personal care to 122 people across four sites.

People’s experience of using this service:

People spoke highly of the service. One person said, "The care is brilliant."

Staff at the service knew what to do if they suspected abuse. There were systems in place to safeguard people from abuse. People were risk assessed to keep them safe from harm. There were sufficient staff at the service. Suitable staff were recruited to work with people. Staff knew how to administer medicines. Staff wore gloves and aprons to control and prevent infection. The service learned lessons when things went wrong.

People were assessed before the service worked with them. Staff were trained on how to do their jobs and were supervised in their roles. Staff supported people with their food. The service was linked with other agencies and communicated well with them. People were supported to access health care professionals, such as GPs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People told us they were well treated by staff, who were kind to them. People and their relatives were involved with their care and signed their consent to treatment. People’s privacy was respected and they were treated with dignity.

People’s care plans recorded their needs so staff knew them. People told us they knew how to make complaints and the service responded to them. The service recorded people’s end of life wishes.

People thought highly of the staff and the management of the service. The registered manager felt supported in their role. The service had good links with other agencies to the benefit of people using the service. The provider used audits, spot checks and surveys to drive improvement in the service. There were meetings where people could discuss their housing and care. Relatives could attend a quarterly forum. Staff had meetings where they could be involved in the service.

Rating at last inspection: This service had not previously been inspected as it was a new service.

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection because the service was registered in February 2018 and we inspect services within 12 months of their registration.

Follow up: ongoing monitoring of the service