Background to this inspection
Updated
12 March 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team: The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Service and service type: Mencap Central Notts Services is a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care to people living in their own homes. 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 was an unannounced visit.
What we did: Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service. This included the statutory notifications sent to us by the registered provider about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send to us by law. We also contacted the local authority and their safeguarding team and the local Healthwatch to gain their views. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.
The inspection site visit activity took place on 19 February 2019. We visited the office location to see the registered manager and service manager; and to review care records and policies and procedures. We looked at care records for four people, medicine records for four people, recruitment records for four staff and other records relating to the management and quality monitoring of the service.
We also visited one of three properties where people who use the service live. We spoke with two members of staff and spoke with all five people who lived there.
Updated
12 March 2019
About the service: Mencap Central Notts service provides care and support to people living in three ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. There were 13 people using the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.
People’s experience of using this service: The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways; promotion of choice and control and independence and inclusion. For example, people's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible to gain new skills and increase or maintain their independence.
People told us they received safe care by consistent staff members. People received support to take their medicines safely. Risks to people's well-being and their home environment were recorded and updated when their circumstances changed.
People's rights to make their own decisions were respected. People were supported to access healthcare services if needed. Staff had appropriate skills and knowledge to deliver care and support in a person-centred way. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink.
People received caring and compassionate support from the staff. Staff referred to people in a respectful way. People were complimentary about staff and the positive relationships they had with them. Staff respected people's privacy and dignity and people were supported to be as independent as possible.
People received personalised support based on their assessed needs and preferences. Staff knew how to support people in the way they preferred. People knew how to complain.
The service was managed by a registered manager who had a clear vision about the quality of care they wanted to provide. Staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities. A range of quality assurance checks were carried out to monitor and improve standards. We received positive feedback on the management and leadership of the service. The service worked well with other community partners.
Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated Good (report published July 2016)
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.
Follow up: We will monitor all intelligence received about the service to inform the assessment of the risk profile of the service and to ensure the next planned inspection is scheduled accordingly.
More information is in the detailed findings below.