Background to this inspection
Updated
11 August 2021
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of an inspector. The inspector visited the office and made telephone calls to people who used the service, their relatives and staff.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service and sought feedback from professionals who commissioned a service from this provider. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.
During the inspection-
We spoke with two people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven staff including the nominated individual and registered manager. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and two staff files in relation to recruitment and training. A variety of records relating to the management of the service including audits were reviewed.
Updated
11 August 2021
Multi-Care Community Services Witham Ltd is a service registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. The service supports younger adults and older people living in and around Braintree, Colchester and Chelmsford. On the day of our inspection they were supporting 14 people with the regulated activity of personal care.
People’s experience of using this service
People who used this service received continuity of care from a regular team of staff. People told us staff came when they were supposed to and stayed for the agreed period of time. Staff knew when and where they were visiting, as their rotas were planned in advance. There were systems in place for out of office hours to enable people and staff to receive the support they needed.
The provider had organised sufficient supplies of PPE for staff and there were clear arrangements in place regarding regular COVID-19 testing of staff. People confirmed staff wore appropriate PPE on their visits.
New staff received induction training when they started work and ongoing refresher training was provided.
People’s medicines were managed effectively, and staff competency to administer medicines was checked at regular intervals.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People’s needs were assessed prior to the commencement of the service. This assessment included people’s health, physical, social and emotional needs. The environment was risk assessed and the information used to build a detailed care plan for staff to follow when providing support. People were supported to eat and drink to maintain a balanced diet. Meals and drinks of their choice were prepared.
People were supported by a kind and friendly staff team who treated them with respect. Satisfaction surveys were undertaken at regular intervals to ascertain the views of people who used the service.
The registered manager carried out regular supervisions and observational spot checks to check that staff were working to the required standards. The registered manager knew each person well and had a good level of oversight of the care provided. There were some quality assurance systems in place and there were plans to develop these further.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 17 January 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection of a newly registered service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information, we may inspect sooner.