Background to this inspection
Updated
5 May 2015
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 12 December 2014 and was unannounced.
The inspection was carried out by an inspector, a professional advisor who was a nurse with knowledge of the needs of people who have a learning disability.
Prior to the inspection we reviewed the information we had about the service. This included information sent to us by the provider, about the staff and the people who used the service. Before the inspection the provider completed 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 plan to make. We spoke with the local safeguarding team to obtain their views.
As part of the inspection, we spoke with three people who used the service, four care staff and the registered manager.
We also looked at a sample of six care records of people who used the service, four staff records and records related to the management of the service.
Updated
5 May 2015
This inspection took place on 22 December 2014 and was unannounced. When we last visited the service on the 28 February 2014 we found they were meeting all the regulations we looked at.
MiHomecare Hampstead is a branch of a national chain which provides care support services to people in their homes. At the time of the inspection, approximately 120 people were using the service run from Hampstead, living mostly in Camden and Westminster.
The service had a registered manager. 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. Medicines were managed safely. Risk assessments identified the risks to people and how these could be prevented. Staff were available to meet people's needs.
People were involved in decisions about their care and how their needs would be met. Managers and staff had received training on the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. These safeguards are there to make sure that people in care homes, hospitals and supported living are looked after in a way that does not inappropriately restrict their freedom. Services should only deprive someone of their liberty when it is in the best interests of the person and there is no other way to look after them, and it should be done in a safe and correct way.
Staff had access to ongoing training. They were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills and knowledge to meet people’s support needs.
People were supported to eat and drink. Staff supported people to attend healthcare appointments and liaised with their GP and other healthcare professionals as required to meet people’s needs.
People received individualised support that met their needs. Staff knew how to respond to people's needs in a way that promoted their individual preferences and choices regarding their care.
People were treated with dignity and respect. Staff understood people’s preferences, likes and dislikes regarding their care and support needs. Care was planned and delivered in ways that enhanced people’s safety and welfare according to their needs and preferences.
People using the service, relatives and staff said the manager was approachable and supportive. Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service and people and their relatives felt confident to express any concerns, so these could be addressed.