Mendip Care Ltd

Updated 10 August 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

This inspection was completed by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

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

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post who was also the provider.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and we wanted to be sure the registered manager would be available to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 13 July 2023 and ended on 27 July 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since its registration. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We visited the location’s office on 21 and 27 July 2023 where we spoke with the registered manager and the deputy manager. During the other dates, we spoke on the phone with 5 people using the service, with 2 relatives and 6 care staff. We reviewed 4 people's care plans and associated records. We looked at 1 staff file in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed. These included the current plans for service improvements, various audits, compliments records, staff training, staff meeting minutes, infection control audits and associated policies.

Updated 10 August 2023

Mendip Care Ltd is a domiciliary service providing personal care to people in their own homes. The service provides personal care to people living in their own houses or flats who require support due to needs relating to their age. 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 our inspection there were 19 people using the service receiving support with personal care.

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

People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff knew how to identify and report any concerns and would be confident in doing so. Risks to people were managed in a way which respected people's rights.

People were supported by enough staff to ensure they were safe. Staff were recruited safely and people's medicines were managed safely.

People were cared for by staff who were appropriately trained. Staff were kind, patient and respectful. People had developed a good, trusting relationship with staff caring for them.

People were encouraged to make their own decisions, which were respected by staff. People, and relatives, were able to express their views and they said they were listened to.

People's care was kept under review to meet their changing needs. People had the health care support they needed.

People, relatives and staff had confidence in the management of the service. There was a clear ethos for the service; to provide good quality, person centred care for people in their own homes.

The provider carried out regular audits, visits and held various meetings to review/share practice and review quality. Complaints, concerns and compliments were used as part of the improvement process for the service.

There was good partnership working with external agencies, other care providers and professionals who supported people's care.

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 22 June 2021 (but only started providing care to people in January 2023) and this is the first inspection.

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.