Background to this inspection
Updated
1 November 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place on 7 September 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care and we needed to be sure that someone would be available.
The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.
Prior to this inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service, including data about safeguarding and statutory notifications. Statutory notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.
Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection we looked at a range of records about people’s care and how the service was managed. We looked at thirteen people’s care files, risk assessments, four staff files, training records, complaints logs and quality assurance monitoring records.
We spoke to the registered manager, three staff members and one co-ordinator. Following the inspection we spoke to four people and two relatives to gain their views of the service.
This was the first inspection since the location became registered in 2014.
Updated
1 November 2016
This inspection took place on 7 September 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care and we needed to be sure that someone would be available.
Mears Homecare Limited – Camberley is a domiciliary care agency providing support to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection they were supporting 126 people.
There was a Registered Manager in post. 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.
Risks to people were assessed and measures were put in place to keep people safe, but the standard forms used did not identify all risks such as risks relating to people’s behaviour. Staff reported and recorded accidents and incidents but people’s records were not always updated as a result to prevent a reoccurrence.
People’s rights under the Mental Capacity Act were protected but records showed that the principals of the act were not always adhered to. However, staff demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and people told us that they were encouraged and supported to make choices.
Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding and we saw evidence that where there were concerns these were discussed with the local authority.
Staff were deployed in a way that meant punctuality could be monitored to ensure people received their care safely and on time. Recruitment checks were undertaken by the provider to ensure that staff working with people were suitable for their roles.
People told us that staff knew them well and that they were respectful in maintaining privacy and dignity when providing care in their homes. People were encouraged to be independent and staff worked with people to offer choices when supporting them at mealtimes.
People were given a thorough assessment before receiving care. Care plans contained person-centred information to help staff get to know people and provide them with the care that they needed. People’s needs were reviewed regularly and necessary changes were actioned by staff.
People were administered their medicines by competent staff. Audits had helped to improve staff’s recording of medicines to ensure people received them safely. Staff worked alongside healthcare professionals to provide people with care that promoted their health and wellbeing.
People told us that staff were competent and skilled in carrying out their role. The provider had effective arrangements in place to train, supervise and provide induction to staff. Staff told us they felt supported by the provider and could call for assistance at any time.
People told us they were confident to raise any issues about their care. There was a complaints policy in place and there was evidence that complaints had been recorded, investigated and responded to.
The service had systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided through seeking people’s feedback and carrying out audits. People told us they had seen improvements in their care. The manager had a vision for the future of the service and was taking steps to overcome identified challenges.