Background to this inspection
Updated
25 March 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider was 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 21 and 22 February 2017. It was an announced inspection. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because the manager is sometimes out of the office supporting staff or visiting people who use the service. We needed to be sure that someone would be in. This inspection was conducted by one inspector.
Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete 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. The provider did not return a completed PIR and we took this into account when we made the judgements in this report.
We looked at previous inspection reports and notifications received from the provider. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. This ensured we were addressing any areas of concern.
We spoke with seven people, six relatives, six care staff, two senior care workers and the manager. We looked at 10 people’s care records, six staff files and medicine administration records. We also looked at a range of records relating to the management of the service.
Updated
25 March 2017
We undertook an announced inspection of Mears Domiciliary Care Agency (DCA) on 21 and 22 of February 2017.
Mears provides personal live in care services to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection 54 people were receiving a personal care service.
Services are required to display their most recent ratings on their website and at the provider’s principle place of business. Ratings of the July 2015 inspection were displayed at the location of the service. However we noted that the most recent ratings were not displayed on the services website.
Services that provide health and social care to people are required to inform The Care Quality Commission (CQC) of important events that happen in the service. The manager did not always notify CQC of reportable events.
The service did not have 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. However the manager of the service was in the process of registering.
People told us they were safe. Staff understood their responsibilities to identify and report all concerns in relation to safeguarding people from abuse. Staff had completed safeguarding training.
People were supported by staff who had the skills and training to carry out their roles and responsibilities. People benefitted from caring relationships with the staff who had a caring approach to their work. The service had robust recruitment procedures and conducted background checks to ensure staff were suitable for their role.
Where risks to people had been identified risk assessments were in place and action had been taken to manage the risks. Staff were aware of people's needs and followed guidance to keep them safe. People received their medicines as prescribed. Records confirmed where people needed support with their medicines, they were supported by staff that had been appropriately trained.
Staff spoke positively about the support they received from the manager. Staff had access to effective supervision.
The manager and staff understood the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and applied its principles in their work. The MCA protects the rights of people who may not be able to make particular decisions themselves.
The service sought people's views and opinions and acted upon them. People and their relatives told us they were confident they would be listened to and action would be taken if they raised a concern.
Staff and the manager shared the visions and values of the service and these were embedded within service delivery. The service had systems to assess the quality of the service provided. Learning from audits took place which promoted people's safety and quality of life.
People were supported to maintain good health. Various health professionals were involved in assessing, planning and evaluating people's care and treatment.