Background to this inspection
Updated
18 July 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 4 June 2019 and ended on 11 June 2019. We visited the office location on 4 June and 11 June 2019.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, manager, and care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records, three staff files and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and spoke with one professional who worked with the service.
Updated
18 July 2019
About the service
Mencap Staffordshire domiciliary care agency is a care at home service providing personal care to people who may have learning difficulties. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection six people were receiving assistance with their personal care needs.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Where people were supported with medication, we found it was not documented appropriately, for example on a medication administration record. However, staff were aware of people’s medication needs. Risk’s to people were assessed and people told us they felt safe. We found people were protected from potential abuse and the risk of cross infection as staff wore personal protective equipment when supporting people with their personal care.
Governance systems required strengthening. The provider had a clear vision for the service and staff told us management were approachable. The service worked in partnership with other professionals
People’s needs, and choices were assessed, and care plans detailed how people liked to be supported. Staff had received training to ensure they delivered care effectively and people were supported to maintain good health.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were supported by staff who knew them well. One person told us staff were, “Very kind” and they were happy with the care they received. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and promoted their independence.
Support plans were personalised to meet people’s preferences and people told us staff knew their likes and dislikes. The provider was following the Accessible Information Standard and people told us they knew how to complain. At the time of inspection nobody was receiving end of life care and support.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 19 March 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.