Background to this inspection
Updated
6 August 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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 2, 6 and 7 June 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice of the inspection because the service provided was domiciliary care in people’s own homes and we wanted to make arrangements to contact people.
The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.
Prior to the inspection we looked at the information we had about the service. This information included the statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.
Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they planned to make. We received this on time and reviewed the information to assist in our planning of the inspection.
We contacted five health and social care professionals to obtain their views on the service and how it was being managed. This included professionals from the local authority and the GP practice.
During the inspection we spoke with seven people using the service and looked at the records of eight people and those relating to the running of the service. This included staffing rotas, policies and procedures, quality checks that had been completed, supervision and training information for staff.
We spoke with six members of staff and the management team of the service. We spoke with six relatives to obtain their views about the service.
Updated
6 August 2016
The inspection took place on 2, 6 and 7 June 2016. The last inspection took place in September 2013. There were no breaches of regulation at that time.
Mears Homecare Limited Bristol provides a personal care service for people who require support in their own home.
At the time of our inspection around 65 people were using the service.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.’
The service was safe. Risk assessments were implemented and reflected the current level of risk to people. There were sufficient staffing levels to ensure safe care and treatment.
People were receiving effective care and support. Staff received appropriate training which was relevant to their role. Staff received regular supervisions and appraisals. The service was adhering to the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).
The service was caring. People and their relatives spoke positively about the staff. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of respect and dignity. It was evident people were receiving a service which was personalised to their individual needs.
The service was responsive. Care plans were person centred and provided sufficient detail to provide safe and quality care to people. Care plans were reviewed and people were involved in the planning of their care. There was a robust complaints procedure in place and, where complaints had been made, there was evidence these had been dealt with appropriately.
The service was well-led. Quality assurance checks and audits were occurring regularly and identified actions required to improve the service. Staff, people and their relatives spoke positively about the registered manager.