26 and 28 January 2015
During a routine inspection
We undertook an announced inspection of MiHomecare-Exeter (DCA) on 26 and 28 January 2015. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming to ensure the information we needed would be available. MiHomecare-Exeter provides personal care services to people in their own homes and MiHomecare Limited has 40 domiciliary care services across the country with 29 in the South of England. At the time of our inspection approximately 55 people were receiving a personal care service.
This service has not been inspected previously and was registered with CQC on 24 May 2013.
People were kept safe and free from harm. There were appropriate numbers of staff employed to meet people’s needs and provide a flexible service. Staff were able to accommodate last minute changes to appointments as requested by the person who used the service or their relatives.
Staff received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.
Staff knew the people they were supporting and provided a personalised service. Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported and people were involved in making decisions about their care. People told us they liked the staff and found the care to be satistfactory.
Peoples’ comments included “I’m really happy with the care workers, they push the boat out to do what they do” and “Thanks to the girls for looking after me”.
People were supported to eat and drink. Staff supported people to attend healthcare appointments and liaised with their GP and other healthcare professionals as required to meet people’s needs.
The service has recently changed managers. Although the service has always had a manager, the previous manager left before they had registered with CQC so there has not been a registered manager at MiHomecare-Exeter since its registration. The manager in post now told us they intended to apply for registration shortly with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They also managed the Okehampton branch. A registered manager is a person who has registered with 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The manager was accessible and approachable. Staff, people who used the service and relatives felt able to speak with the manager and there were opportunities to provide regular feedback on the service. There were good systems in place to regularly monitor the quality of the service provided.