The Care Quality Commission
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  • Homecare service

Archived: MiHomecare - Abingdon

2 The Quadrant, Abingdon Science Park Barton Lane, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 3YS (01235) 530655

Provided and run by:
MiHomecare Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

All Inspections

29 October 2013

During a routine inspection

The provider had been managing the agency since July 2013. We saw that the service had gone through a period of change with the introduction of new working systems and a new branch manager. We were told that the agency was experiencing a staff shortage. People and relatives told us that visits were at times later than planned. We saw that the agency was monitoring the visits people received and had taken action to ensure people received their visits. The provider had also appointed a local recruitment officer to support the agency to recruit more care workers.

People told us that care workers showed them 'kindness', 'friendliness' and 'respect'. One relative told us 'my mum really loves some of her carers' and another 'they will always contact me if there are any concerns'. We found the care workers we spoke with to be caring, passionate and committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of the people they supported.

We found that people had an assessment of their needs and risks to their health and welfare. We saw that care plans did not always accurately reflect people's needs or include important information. Care workers did not always have accurate and sufficient information to know how to support people to ensure their safety and welfare.

The agency had arrangements in place to protect people from the risk of abuse. Care workers understood the local safeguarding arrangements and knew how to respond to any concerns relating to abuse. We saw that investigations had been undertaken in line with the local safeguarding procedures.

We found that staff had received appropriate induction, training and supervision to ensure that they had the skills to undertake their care tasks competently. The agency had made arrangements to ensure all care workers receive specialist training.