Archived: Abbey Mortimer Care Services

Abbey Mortimer Care Service is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people in their own homes. The service was supporting nine people, but only seven with personal care, at the time of the inspection.

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.

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

The provider did not have robust processes in place for the oversight of the service. They did not always follow good practice guidance in relation to staffing and recruitment during the pandemic or complete audits of the quality of the service provided.

There were not enough staff to support people with their care arrangements as some people had been left without a call and staff shortages meant calls could not always be covered. Recruitment of more care staff for the service was underway. Staff induction, training and supervision was not robust or consistent.

People’s medicines were managed effectively day to day. However, audits of the medicine administration records were not always undertaken to ensure people were getting their medicines as prescribed.

The provider’s infection prevention and control policy and procedure were not up to date in relation to COVID-19 and the pandemic. Staff had enough personal protective equipment and had received training in how to use it.

Risks to people’s health and wellbeing had been assessed and recorded. Environmental risks to people and staff had been completed. People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet. Meals and drinks of their choice were prepared for them.

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 told us staff were caring and kind. Staff knew them very well and were respectful of their homes and families.

Arrangements were in place for services to work together. People were supported to live independent lives and have access to healthcare support.

Staff had access to clear information about people's needs and wishes, which were written in a respectful way People had been involved in their care arrangements.

People’s end of life care wishes were discussed with them as appropriate.

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 December 2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the Safe and Well led section of this full report.

Enforcement

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to discharge our regulatory enforcement functions required to keep people safe and to hold providers to account where it is necessary for us to do so.

We have identified breaches in relation to staffing and good governance of the service at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider to put this in place and monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.