Mindful Care & Support Ltd

Updated 23 June 2021

The inspection

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.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one Inspector and an Expert 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.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that 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

This inspection was announced.

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed the provider to send us some information prior to the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 18 May 2021 and ended on 25 May 2021. We visited the office location on 18 May 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the provider had registered with CQC. 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. We reviewed some further information requested from the provider when we announced the inspection. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

We spoke to three people who used the service, eight relatives or carers and one healthcare professional about their experience of the service. We spoke to the registered manager and nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We spoke to the quality and business development officer, the coordinator, two team leaders and five members of staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment, staff training and supervision records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 23 June 2021

About the service

Mindful Care and Support is a home care agency supporting people with personal care in their own homes. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting 40 people with personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People and relatives told us staff took appropriate steps to reduce the risk of infection. Not all staff were accessing COVID-19 testing according to government guidance. We brought this to the provider's attention, and they took immediate action to ensure staff were taking tests as recommended. There were systems and processes in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. People had appropriate risk assessments in place and staff understood any risks involved in their care. Incidents and accidents were investigated thoroughly.

People’s needs were thoroughly assessed, and their care was based on current guidance and standards. Staff were well supported with appropriate induction, supervision and training. People were supported to live healthy lives through appropriate support around nutrition and hydration. The service worked with other agencies to support people to have positive health outcomes.

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 and relatives told us the service was caring and staff knew people well. The service respected equality and diversity. People and their relatives were fully involved in the planning of their care and the service communicated with them regularly. People were treated with dignity and respect.

People received care that met their needs. People were empowered to make their own choices and be as independent in their activities as possible. People were supported to continue activities that were important to them.

We received positive feedback about the culture and management of the service from people, relatives and staff. There were processes in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service. People, relatives and staff were engaged in the running of the service and any feedback received was acted upon.

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 10/04/2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection.

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.