Archived: Mears Homecare Limited - Leeds DCA

Updated 12 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.

Our inspection took place on 08 and 27 September 2016 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure someone would be in the office.

The inspection team consisted of one adult social inspector who visited the premises and made telephone calls to people who received this service and their relatives. We also spoke with staff members.

At the time of our inspection there were 20 people using the service who received personal care. During the inspection we looked at records relating to the running of the service and provision of care. We looked in detail at five people’s care plans and records relating to their medicines. We also spoke with the registered manager and the administrative worker. We spoke on the telephone with four members of staff, three people who used the service and two people’s relatives.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service including previous inspection reports and notifications sent to the CQC by and about the service. In addition we contacted Healthwatch and local authorities who commission services from the provider to ask whether they had any feedback to share with us. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

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.

Updated 12 November 2016

This was an announced inspection carried out on 8 and 27 September 2016. At our last inspection on 8 January 2014, we found each of the regulations we looked at were met.

Mears Homecare Limited Leeds DCA provides care and support to people in Leeds and Richmond. The agency's office is situated in East Leeds. They offer a range of services to meet the needs of individuals who live in their own homes and need support or care.

At the time of our inspection the service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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.

We found the administration of medicines was not always safe. Although daily notes showed people were receiving their medicines and people were satisfied they received appropriate assistance from staff with their medicines, we found some gaps in the recording on Medication Administration records (MARs) and audits on MARs returned to the service were not carried out.

The registered manager agreed this would be addressed.

Staff were able to confidently describe how they would identify a person was being harmed and felt confident the management team would take appropriate action. They were aware of the registered provider’s whistleblowing policy. Safeguarding notifications had been submitted by the registered manager to CQC and the local safeguarding authority.

Recruitment processes were effective which meant people were protected from individuals identified as not suitable to working with vulnerable adults. Risks to people had been identified, assessed and reviewed.

People received calls/visits at expected times and when this was not possible they were kept informed of any delays. People were supported by regular staff members who were familiar with them and their needs. Positive feedback was given from people and relatives regarding the staff who provided their care and support. Staff knew how to protect people’s privacy and dignity and people confirmed this happened.

Staff received effective support through supervision sessions and ongoing training. Staff meetings were held and staff confirmed they were able to express their views.

Staff had received training in the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA) and knew how this applied to their work. Staff told us about the importance of offering people choice and people confirmed this happened.

Appropriate guidance was in place to ensure people received enough to eat and drink. Staff were able to recognise and report when people’s healthcare needs changed. When this happened, referrals were made to healthcare services to ensure people received the necessary assistance.

Complaints were welcomed and were investigated and responded to appropriately. People’s care plans contained sufficient and relevant information to provide consistent, care and support.

Quality management systems in place ensured appropriate checks were being made to improve service delivery.