We carried out a review of the data available to us about Bristol ECHS on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Bristol ECHS, you can give feedback on this service.
Bristol ECHS is a service that provides personal care to people living in an extra care housing scheme. People live in their own flats within the complex and staff are based on site to deliver their commissioned care packages. The service also provides personal care to people in their own homes within a small radius of the office. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. Throughout the report we refer to the extra care housing scheme as extra care housing scheme and those people receiving care in their homes outside of the complex are described as receiving 'domiciliary care'. This is how staff distinguished between the two aspects of the service.
The service provides support to 37 people in the extra care housing scheme with 34 people receiving personal care. Within the domiciliary care service 48 people were receiving a service with 46 people receiving 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
People were happy and positive about the care and support received. People were confident to raise any concerns with staff and the registered manager. Risk assessments and audits were reviewed regularly to ensure potential risk of harm was minimised.
Staffing levels were enough to meet people's needs and protected them from harm. Staff recruitment procedures were robust and pre-employment checks were undertaken to ensure suitable staff were employed to support vulnerable people. Staff had received training to meet the needs of people using the service. They had also received regular supervision and an appraisal of their work performance. People received their medicines as required, from trained and competent staff. Staff ensured people were protected from the risk of acquiring an infection during the provision of their care.
The registered manager and staff demonstrated a clear understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were supported with maintaining a balanced diet and the people who used the service chose their meals and these were provided in line with their preferences.
The staff were kind and caring. People were treated with dignity and respect. Staff knew people well and how to communicate with them. Staff went above and beyond their contractual obligations to support people in their care. Staff regularly fundraised for different activities for people using the service.
The service was responsive to people's health and social needs. People's care records were reflective of people's individual care needs and preferences and were reviewed on a regular basis. Care plans were adapted to support the changing needs of people. The service provided a person centred holistic approach. People knew about the service's complaints procedures and knew how to make a complaint. People were supported and helped to maintain their health and to access health services when they needed them.
People received a service that was well led. The management promoted a positive culture that was open and transparent. The registered manager demonstrated good visible leadership and understood their responsibilities. Quality assurance practices were robust and used to make improvements. Staff were motivated and reflected pride in their work. They talked about people in a way which demonstrated they wanted to support them as much as possible and provide the best standards of care.
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.
Rating at last inspection
Under the previous provider, the last rating for the service was outstanding (published on 18 July 2017).
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Mears Care provides personal care to people living in the Blaise Weston Extra Care Housing Scheme (ECHS). Personal care is also provided to people living in their own homes in the community.
Within the ECHS, people lived independently in their own flats. 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
This inspection was targeted at safety, in particular relating to staffing levels. People were positive about the care they received. There was an acknowledgment that there had been challenges relating to the pandemic. People understood that occasionally calls needed to be cut short to accommodate increased demands on staff’s time due to the numbers of staff who had left the service or were isolating in line with government guidance. However, this hadn’t impacted on people’s safety. Comments included; “We never feel unsafe as the staff are wonderful. When calls have to be cut short it’s sad because those girls do their best to get everything done and don’t let us down.”, “Staff support me very well indeed; I feel very good in myself and confident staff look after me in the correct manner” and “on a scale of one to 10, its 10 plus. I can’t speak highly enough… (name of carer) and (name of carer), they’re brilliant … the care is second to none…very efficient….they have got to know (name).”
Rating at last inspection (and update)
There was a change in legal entity for the provider of this service in January 2020 and the service has not received a comprehensive inspection or rating since this change. This inspection did not result in a rating as it was a targeted inspection, looking specifically at issues in relation to safety and staffing.
The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Outstanding, published on 15 July 2017.
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted due to concerns received about staffing levels and how these were impacting on the safety of people using the service. CQC had received whistleblowing information about this issue.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect again.
We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress.