The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: MiHomecare - Hampstead

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

95 Heath Street, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SS (020) 7794 9323

Provided and run by:
MiHomecare Limited

All Inspections

22th December 2014

During a routine inspection

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.

28 February 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this inspection on the 28 February 2014. We had previously inspected the service in October 2013, when we had found insufficient evidence to confirm that people's care plans and risk assessments relating to their care were being reviewed and updated on a regular basis. This meant that the provider had failed to comply with the requirements of Regulation 20 (1) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010.

Following our inspection in October 2013 the provider sent us a plan of the actions it intended to take in order to comply with the regulation. We undertook this inspection to check that the actions had been implemented.

We spoke with the branch manager and looked at the care records of ten randomly selected people who used the service. We found that the records were in good order and were well maintained. We found that the provider had taken appropriate and sufficient action to ensure that people's care plans and risk assessments were reviewed on a regular basis and was therefore compliant with the requirements of Regulation 20 (1).

10 October 2013

During a routine inspection

We inspected this service on 10 October 2013. We spoke with the branch manager and looked at the care records of a number of people who used the service. We also looked at the employment files of several care workers and other records regarding the service. We contacted by phone people who used the service to discuss their experience. Where they were not able to speak with us, we discussed matters with their carers or relatives. We interviewed a number of care workers by telephone.

People told us they were generally happy with the service provided. One person said the care workers were 'angels.' Another told us they 'have no complaints about the agency.' People told us that they had frequent contact with the provider's office staff to discuss the care and support they received.

With regard to the care of several people who used the service, there was a lack of evidence that their care plans had been formally reviewed and updated for some time. We have set a compliance action accordingly.

The provider had an effective system for monitoring the quality of the service and dealing with complaints. However, we noted that the provider's general policy and procedure documents had not been reviewed for over a year.

Care workers received appropriate induction and ongoing training. Where the need for extra training was identified, the provider had made arrangements for it to be given. Workers received regular supervision and appraisal.