Maria Care Services

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good.

This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 79 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People were at the centre of their care and treatment choices, and they were involved with any changes to their individual care and support.

People’s care plans were person centred and included important information about people’s routines, and their life histories. People’s communication needs, such as if they wore glasses and / or used a hearing aid, was documented within their care planning information. People had a review of their care needs once a year of before if needed. All people felt supported by staff who respected their individual wishes and needs.

People had their care planned and delivered to meet their individual needs. They did this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards. Although improvements were needed to 1 person’s care planning information to ensure it had sufficient nutrition and hydration information.

Care plans were person centred and contained important information and guidance for staff, such as how to support the person with their care and support. For example, 1 person had comprehensive information within their care planning documentation on their diet and how they required this to be modified. They had a detailed assessment giving staff information and guidance on how to support the person safely with their nutrition and hydration. Although 1 other person had limited information within their care plan on how to support them with their diet, including what risks there were to their diet and any guidance for staff. We shared this feedback with the registered manager who took action to review and update this person’s care planning information following our inspection.

The provider always worked well across teams and services to support people. They shared thorough assessments of people’s needs when they moved between different services, so people only needed to tell their story once.

People described the care and support provided to them as good. One person told us, “They’re excellent, very, very good.” People felt staff supported them as needed with referrals when required to health and social care professionals. One person told us, “If they notice something, they'll tell me.” Another person told us, “I do that myself. If there's a problem they let me know.” Relatives told us they felt informed should there be any changes to the person’s individual needs. They told us, “Communication is good. They reply quickly with any changes.” Another relative told us, “I’m kept up to date with emails and phone calls.” They also confirmed the provider had a system that enabled them to review any updates following carer’s visits. They confirmed they were really happy with the care and support provided.

During the inspection, we were provided examples of the provider working with health and social care professionals when people’s individual needs changed. Details of referrals including any outcomes and actions taken were documented within people’s care planning information, daily records or other supporting documentation. Feedback from health and social care professionals was positive as they all felt any changes to people’s care and support were raised with them when required. Feedback included, “They are very responsive and helpful whenever I have made contact with them. They appropriately identify which health care professional may be needed in relation to a particular issue and will make referrals as needed. They have been very supportive in attending multi-disciplinary meetings when needed.” Another health and social care professional told us, “I have found Maria Care to be a reliable and responsive provider that delivers good quality care to individuals. They notify us promptly of any issues with care packages and are proactive in resolving any concerns that arise.” Another health and social care professional told us, “The quality of care from Maria Care staff has always been exemplary and I have seen first-hand the excellent care they provide to clients I have worked with.”

People were supported by the registered manager and staff to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.

People were supported by staff who gave examples of how they maximised their choice, independence and control. For example, 1 member of staff told us, “Choice and support, let them choose what they want to do or wear or let them make their own choices with personal care, meals or what they would like for breakfast.” Another member of staff told us, “Ask them what they want, you do everything to prompt their independence.”

People felt supported by staff who respected their independence and who provided them with choice. People told us, staff were supportive and care was provided flexibly to them. They said, “Oh yes, whatever I ask.” Another person said, “Yes, definitely.”

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

People’s individual needs were reviewed by the service when needed or yearly. Any changes to people’s individual needs were raised with the local authority through referrals or their health and social care professional as needed. The office manager and office staff were always adapting people’s individual care and support needs as required. All people were happy with the care and support provided to them and all felt able to liaise with the office if they needed to.

People were supported by staff who gained consent and who respected them whilst delivering person-centred care and treatment.

People told us staff supported them to make decisions and choices. Comments included, “Definitely” and “Yes.” All people described the care provided as positive.

Staff ensured they gained consent prior to supporting people. One member of staff told us, “We ask them what they want.”