22, 26 and 28 October 2015
During a routine inspection
Mears Care Cambridge is an agency that provides personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection the service provided personal care to approximately 200 people living Cambridgeshire.
Our last inspection took place on 8 April 2013 we found the provider was meeting all the regulations we looked at.
The last registered manager left the service in June 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. The new manager took up post shortly after the registered manager left. They have significant experience of managing a similar service. Their application to register as manager was being processed by the CQC during this inspection.
Staff were only employed after the provider carried out satisfactory pre-employment checks. Staff were trained and well supported by their managers. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s assessed needs. Systems were in place to ensure people’s safety was effectively managed. Staff were aware of the procedures for reporting concerns and of how to protect people from harm.
People’s health and care needs were effectively met and staff were aware of people’s dietary needs. People received their prescribed medicines appropriately and medicines.
The CQC monitors the operations of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care services. We found people’s rights to make decisions about their care were respected.
People received care and support from staff who were kind, friendly, and efficient. People and their relatives were encouraged to express their views on the service provided.
People, and their relatives where appropriate, were involved in their care assessments and reviews. Care records were detailed and provided staff with sufficient guidance to provide consistent care to each person that met their needs. Changes to people’s care was kept under review to ensure that any changes were effective.
People and their relatives knew who they could speak with if they had a concern or complaint. A complaints procedure was in place. The manager responded appropriately to people’s concerns or complaints.
People, relatives and staff told us there had been significant improvements in the way the service was run since the new manager took up post in June 2015. People and relatives were encouraged to provide feedback on the service in various ways both formally and informally. There was an effective quality assurance system in place and the manager had clear plans for the service’ further improvement and development.
Mears Care Cambridge is an agency that provides personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection the service provided personal care to approximately 200 people living Cambridgeshire.