MidCo Care

Updated 13 March 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

The inspection took place between 22 February 2018 and 26 February 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector. The inspection site visit started on 22 February 2018 and ended on 26 February 2018. It included visiting the office location on 22 February 2018 to see the registered manager and office staff. We also shadowed staff as part of our inspection to help us understand how people’s needs were met.

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. Prior to our inspection, we looked at this and other information we hold about the service. This included information from notifications received by us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law. Before the inspection, we asked for information from representatives of the local authority contracts monitoring team and the local authority safeguarding team. This was to help us plan our inspection.

During the inspection, we spoke with three people who used the service and four people’s relatives. We also spoke with the registered manager, a care coordinator and five care staff on the 22 and 26 February 2018. We looked at three people’s care records and records in relation to the management of the service. These included quality monitoring records; management of staff; management of people’s medicines; compliments and complaints; and two staff recruitment files. We also observed the care and support people received to assist us in our understanding of the quality of care provided to people.

Updated 13 March 2018

MidCo Care is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to older people, people living with dementia and people with mental health needs. Not everyone using MidCo Care received a regulated activity; Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided.

This announced inspection was carried out on 22 and 26 February 2018. At our inspection in December 2016 the service was rated as Requires Improvement. At this inspection in February 2018 it had improved to Good. At the time of our inspection there were 10 people using the service.

There was a registered manager who had been in post since the service was registered in March 2015. 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.

Staff understood how to recognise and report any suspicions of poor care and harm. Staff were only offered employment at the service, once all necessary checks had been found to be satisfactory. There was a sufficient number of suitably trained staff to provide people with safe care and support.

Staff cared for people in a kind and considerate way and people’s care was undertaken in an unhurried and patient manner. Staff listened to people and assisted them in a caring way. Staff encouraged people to make their own choices and live as independently as possible. People’s privacy and dignity was promoted by staff.

People helped determine what their care arrangements were and the provider took account of people’s wishes and choices and any future goals. People’s care and support plans were an individual record about each person’s needs and any assistance they required from staff. Risks to people were identified, and plans were put into place to promote people’s safety without limiting people’s right to choose what they wanted.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff benefitted from the support, training and mentoring they were provided and this helped to promote people’s safety and wellbeing. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities in meeting people’s needs. Systems, including regular spot checks and training were in place to help staff to maintain their skills and the standard of work expected from them by the registered manager.

People were supported to maintain their health by staff that had been deemed competent to safely administer people their prescribed medicines. Staff assisted people to maintain the correct level of nutritional intake of food and fluids. Staff enabled or supported people to access community health care services.

People received a service that helped them to have their needs met in a person centred way. People were encouraged to maintain contact with their relatives and friends when they wished to do so. There was a process in place to manage any concerns, suggestions and complaints. Complaints were resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction.

Staff had various opportunities including meetings to feedback their experiences and receive updates about the service. Any suggestions or concerns that staff had could be raised at one to one supervision meetings or at other occasions staff contacted the office. Staff were supported by the registered manager who listened and acted upon any opportunity for improvement.

Arrangements were in place to ensure the quality of the service provided for people was regularly monitored. People who used the service and their relatives were encouraged to share their views and feedback about the quality of the care and support provided and felt listened to. As a result of feedback, actions were taken to drive forward any improvements that were required.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.