Background to this inspection
Updated
13 June 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.
This inspection took place on 17 May 2017 and was announced. The provider was given notice because the service provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be at the location.
The inspection team consisted of one inspector and two experts by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Before our inspection we reviewed information held about the service. We looked at our own system to see if we had received any concerns or compliments about the service. We analysed information on statutory notifications we had received from the provider. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We contacted representatives from the local authority and Healthwatch for their views about the service. We used this information to help us plan our inspection.
During the inspection we spoke with five people who used the service and four relatives. We spoke with five staff which included care staff, team leader, care co-ordinator and the registered manager. We viewed care records for three people, three medicine records, two staff recruitment records and records relating to how the service was managed.
Updated
13 June 2017
This inspection took place on 17 May 2017 and was announced. There have been no previous inspections under this registration.
Mears Homecare Limited – Staffordshire is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes who are over the age of 18 years old. There were 28 people using the service on the day of our inspection.
A registered manager was in post and was present during our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.
People were kept safe in their own homes by staff who had been trained to recognise when they may be at risk of harm. Staff were confident in what they needed to do to report any concerns they may have about a person's safety. People felt safe with the staff that supported them and were happy their property was kept secure. There were safe systems in place to manage people's medicines and monitor risks associated with their care.
People were supported by staff who were familiar to them. Staff worked within the same localities to make sure people received a consistency to their care by having the same staff. Staff did not start working for the service until background checks had been completed to make sure they were suitable to support people in their own homes.
People had confidence in the skills of the staff that supported them. Staff received training that was specific to people's needs. Staff were supported to make sure they could carry out their roles effectively and meet the needs of the people they supported.
Staff asked for people's consent before they supported them and gave them choices to enable them to make day-to-day decisions about their care. The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities in ensuring people's rights would be protected if they needed support with making decisions.
People were happy with the care they received and the kind and caring approach of staff. People had positive relationships with the staff that supported them and felt involved in their own care. They were asked how they wanted their care delivered and felt listened to and respected.
Staff promoted people's independence to enable them to remain in their own homes and respected their privacy and dignity.
People received care and support that was discussed and agreed with them. Staff were responsive to people’s changes in needs and wishes and provided their care the way they wanted it.
People’s opinions on the care they received were sought from the provider, staff and registered manager. This feedback was used to make improvements to the quality of care people experienced. People knew how to make complaints but had not needed to do so. Systems were in place to investigate and respond to complaints.
The service had a positive culture and staff worked for the benefit of the people who used it. The quality of care people received was continually assessed and monitored. Where areas for improvement had been identified, action was taken to ensure these improvements were made and were effective.