We carried out a review of the data available to us about M & S Care Solutions - English Walls on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about M & S Care Solutions - English Walls, you can give feedback on this service.
M&S Care Solutions-English Walls is a domiciliary care agency which provides assistance with personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of this inspection five people were receiving support with personal care needs. 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 felt safe with the staff who supported them. People were supported by adequate numbers of staff who were safe to work with them. The provider’s systems protected people from the risk of abuse. People were protected from the risks associated with the control and spread of infection. There were safe systems for the management and administration of people’s prescribed medicines. People received their medicines when they needed them from staff who were trained and competent.
People were supported by staff who were trained and competent in their role. People were assessed before they used the service to ensure their needs and preferences could be met. Staff understood the importance of ensuring people's rights were respected and protected. 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. People's health care and nutritional needs were monitored and understood by staff.
There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service people received. People’s views were valued and responded to. The service worked in partnership with other professionals to ensure people received a service which met their needs and preferences. People were cared for by a staff team who were well supported in their role.
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 18 April 2019) where four breaches of legal requirements were found. 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 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 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 M & S Care Solutions - English Walls 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.
M & S Care Solutions - English Walls is a domiciliary care agency, providing personal care to people in their own homes. The service operates from the registered address based in Oswestry. At the time of this inspection six people were using the service.
People’s experience of using this service:
Safe Care and Treatment was not always consistently provided. People’s level of risk was assessed from the outset but risks were not always regularly reviewed or assessed.
Medication processes were not safely in place. People received support with their medicines from staff who had received medication training however, their competency levels were not routinely assessed.
Medication care plans did not contain the appropriate level of information in relation to ‘as and when’ needed (PRN) medication and medication audits were not effectively identifying errors.
Although people told us they received continuity of care from regular members of staff, punctuality of staff was an issue. People were not receiving support visits at their allocated times.
Safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures were in place. Staff told us how and why they would report their concerns as a measure of keeping people safe and protected from harm. However, not all staff had completed safeguarding training.
Staff were not receiving regular supervision or being supported with the correct level of training that was required. Training was not up to date and expired training had not been refreshed. Staff were not receiving regular supervision
The registered provider was not complying with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. People’s capacity was not appropriately assessed and best interest meetings/decisions were not taking place.
Quality assurance processes were not always effectively in place. Audit tools and checks were not always identifying areas of improvement that needed to take place.
People also had the opportunity to share their thoughts, opinions and suggestions and the provision of care they received. However, it was not always clear how areas of development were being addressed.
Recruitment processes were in place however pre-employment checks need to be further strengthened.
People told us that staff provided care that was kind, compassionate and considerate. One person told us, “The care is excellent, I can’t fault it.”
People’s privacy, dignity and independence was promoted. Positive relationships had developed between people receiving support and care staff.
An activities co-ordinator had been recruited specifically to support people with hobbies, interests and those who were socially isolated. People were being supported to complete ‘Life Story’ booklets; ‘life story’ information provided staff with essential details about people’s likes, dislikes, wishes and preferences.
The registered provider had a complaints policy in place. Information about the complaints process was provided to people from the outset; people and relatives told us they would feel confident raising their concerns.
Rating at last inspection: This was the first inspection since the registered provider had registered with The Care Quality Commission (CQC) in November 2017.
Why we inspected: This was a planned comprehensive inspection as part of CQC’s inspection schedule.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.
Please see ‘what action we told provider to take’ section at the end of report.