The Care Quality Commission
  • Services in your home
  • Homecare service

Archived: Meritum Idependent Living (Folkestone)

63-67 Cheriton High Street, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 4HA (01303) 272348

Provided and run by:
Meritum Independent Living

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

All Inspections

13 January 2014

During a routine inspection

We visited the office and spoke with the registered manager, the area manager and the coordinator. We later spoke by telephone with five people who used the service, four relatives and four staff.

People felt they were able to make their own decisions and choices regarding their day to day care and support. People confirmed that they had given their consent and been involved in discussions about their care, sometimes with a family member, when the service had first started.

People we spoke with told us they were satisfied with the service they received and that their care was personalised to their needs. One person said, 'It's very good'. Care was delivered by a team of regular care workers to ensure people had continuity. People were aware of their care plan folder (records folder kept in their home), although not always of their care plan. We found that care plans contained information about people's needs and preferences.

People felt they received safe and coordinated care and support where more than one provider was involved.

People were complimentary about the staff and felt the staff had the right skills and experience to meet their needs. One person said, 'We are pleased with the staff that come to us'.

People said they had been asked for their views and feedback on the service provided. There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service.

28 February 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and two relatives. People told us they were treated with dignity and respect. One relative said that staff were polite and helpful, they commented staff were 'Prompt in arriving and did a fine job'. Another person said 'The care is exceptional. I am encouraged to do the things that I can do for myself, but when I need help it's there'. People said care staff visited at times to suit the people who used the service and provided many aspects of support.

People said they were involved in planning their own care. They had consistent staff providing care and support and their own key worker which meant that staff knew people's individual needs and preferences. People had copies of their own care plans and had been involved in planning the type of support they received. People were asked regularly if they wanted any changes to the support they received.

People said they felt safe whilst staff supported them. They told us the service recruited the right calibre of staff and that staff had the right skills and experience to meet their needs. People said that they had been asked if they were satisfied with the service and felt their views were taken onboard.

Relatives told us that the care was personalised to their family member's needs. They had been involved in the assessment of needs and review of the care plan.