Background to this inspection
Updated
17 September 2019
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was undertaken by one 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.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 02 September 2019 and ended on 09 September 2019. We visited the office location on 02 September 2019 to review records and meet with the senior management team.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, and finance manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. On 09 September 2019 we spoke with four people who used the service, four relatives of people who used the service, and three care workers to gather their views on the quality of the service provided.
Updated
17 September 2019
About the service
Medow Care Services Limited is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care and support for people living in their own homes. At the time of this inspection 29 people were receiving support. 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
People were safe and protected from avoidable harm because staff knew how to identify and report any concerns relating to the risk of abuse. They were familiar with how to report concerns to agencies outside of the organisation. Risks to people’s health, safety and well-being were assessed, and measures put in place to remove or reduce the risks. People were supported by staff who had been safely recruited through a robust process.
People’s medicines were managed safely. Staff had received appropriate training and had their competency assessed to help ensure they were sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable in this area. Staff had received training in infection control practices and personal protective equipment such as gloves and aprons was provided for them. The management team took appropriate actions following any incidents and learning was shared with the staff team.
Before care delivery started assessments were undertaken to make sure people’s needs could be met by Medow Care Services Limited. Care plans were developed from these assessments for each person’s identified needs and staff had clear guidance on how to meet those needs. Staff received training and support to enable them to carry out their roles effectively. People told us staff prepared simple meals for them as needed and encouraged them to take fluids to maintain their health and wellbeing. Staff were proactive in identifying if people were unwell and contacted appropriate healthcare professionals as needed.
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 and their relatives praised the kind and caring nature of staff. People received consistent care from a small team of staff. People knew about their care plans and could decide what care and support they needed. People’s records were held securely in a locked cabinet within a locked office to help promote confidentiality. People received care and support as they wished. People told us they would be confident to raise any concerns with the management team.
The registered manager understood their responsibilities under the Duty of Candour and was committed to providing a high standard of care for people as well as support for the staff team. People, their relatives and staff members spoke highly of the registered manager and told us that they were always available and supportive. People told us that they were regularly asked for their views about the quality of the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 09 March 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.