Archived: Mears Care - Nottingham

Updated 30 December 2016

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

This inspection took place on 16 November 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location was a domiciliary care agency and we wanted to ensure there was someone available to assist us with the inspection. The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Prior to our inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included previous inspection reports, information received and statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we spoke with ten people who used the service. We also spoke with eight members of care staff, a service coordinator and the registered manager. We looked at the care records of five people who used the service, medicines records, staff recruitment and training records, as well as a range of records relating to the running of the service.

Updated 30 December 2016

This announced inspection took place on 16 November 2016. Mears Care provides support and personal care to people living in their own homes in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire. On the day of the inspection there were approximately 110 people using the service who received personal care.

The service had a registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. 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.

We found that medicines were not always managed safely as staff did not always have all the information they needed and did not always keep accurate records. There were not sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people’s needs, this resulted in people experiencing delays to their care.

People were supported by staff who knew how to recognise and respond to abuse and systems were in place to minimise the risk of harm. Risks associated with people’s care and support were effectively assessed and managed.

People had access to healthcare and people’s health needs were monitored and responded to. People were supported to eat and drink enough.

People were supported by staff who had the knowledge and skills to provide safe and appropriate care and support. Safe recruitment practices were followed and staff were provided with regular supervision and support.

People were supported to make choices and decisions. However people’s rights under the Mental Capacity Act (2005) were not always respected. People were asked for their consent by staff providing care. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible.

Staff were kind and compassionate and treated people with respect. People’s rights to privacy and dignity were promoted and upheld. People and their families were involved in planning their care and support and most staff knew people’s individual preferences.

People were supported to raise issues and complaints and however complaints were not always resolved to people’s satisfaction. People could not be assured that information about changes to their support would be communicated to them effectively.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. However effective action was not always taken to resolve known issues.

People who used the service were provided with opportunities to give their views on how the service was run.

We found two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. These breaches were in relation to staffing and good governance. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.