Background to this inspection
Updated
15 May 2021
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
This inspection was carried out 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 two managers 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 05 May 2021 and ended on 07 May 2021. We visited the office location on 06 May 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with two people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the provider, registered managers, senior care workers and care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three 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 the evidence that we had requested from the provider for the inspection process such as quality assurance and training records.
Updated
15 May 2021
About the service
MIC Healthcare Solutions is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to older and younger adults who may be living with a learning disability, dementia or a physical disability, living in their own houses or flats. The service was supporting 12 people with personal care at the time of this inspection.
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 and their relatives were positive about the kind and caring support they received. One person told us, ‘‘[Staff] have been great and helped me a lot. I am delighted with the care I get from the service.’’
People were kept safe by staff who were trained and had good knowledge about safeguarding people from abuse. Risks to people were assessed and mitigated as far as possible. People received safe support with their medicines. Staff had training and followed good infection control practices. There were enough staff to keep people safe and people received support from a consistent and reliable staff team. Staff had the training, supervision and knowledge to do their jobs.
Peoples needs were thoroughly assessed before they began using the service. People received support to eat and drink according to their support needs and preferences. Staff supported people to see health professionals if this support was required. 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.
Staff supported people according to their preferences, likes and dislikes. Care plans were centred around people’s wishes and preferences as well as their physical care needs. People were supported to do things that were important to them and access the community if this was their choice. There was a complaints procedure in place at the service and complaints were promptly responded to. People received respectful and dignified care at the end of their lives.
People and their relatives were very positive about the management of the service. The management team had promoted a positive culture in the staff team. Audits and checks were completed in all areas to identify improvements and actions were put in place to help ensure these happened. People and the staff team were asked for feedback about the service and this was used to inform how the service developed. The management team and staff linked with external professionals to learn and put in place best practice guidance.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection (and update)
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 30 August 2019) and there was a breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 31 July 2019. A breach of legal requirement was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve with regards to the breach in good governance.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led which contain those requirements.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for MIC Healthcare Solutions on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.