Mears Care - Bromley

Updated 3 September 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and an Expert by Experience (ExE). An ExE is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Mears Care Bromley provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built accommodation in a shared building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care service.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced.

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

We visited the location on 27 June 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we held about the service including notifications we had received. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people using service, eight relatives, three care staff and the registered manager. We looked at four care files, ten people’s medication administration records, three staff files, quality assurance reports and other records relating to the management of the service including incidents and accidents records.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at records related to the management of the service and we received feedback from two members of the local commissioning team.

Updated 3 September 2022

About the service

Mears Care Bromley provides care and support to older people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built accommodation in a shared building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care service. 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. At the time of our inspection 49 people were using the personal care service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People felt safe at the service as there were procedures and systems in place to safeguard people from abuse. Staff knew the procedure to report abuse. Risks to people assessed and management plans put in place to reduce the risk from happening.

Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff administered people’s medicines safely. Incidents and accidents were reported, and the registered manager reviewed them and took actions to reduce a repeat of such incidents. Staff followed effective infection control procedures.

Staff received adequate training, support and supervision to do their jobs effectively. Staff supported people to access healthcare services they needed to maintain good health. People’s needs were assessed, and their care planned. People’s nutritional needs were met.

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 support this practice. People consented to their care before it was delivered. Staff and the provider understood their responsibilities to act within the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff were kind and caring; and respected people’s dignity, privacy and independence. People were involved in their care. People were supported to engage in activities and to socialise.

People were supported to maintain their cultural and religious beliefs. Staff understood equality and diversity and promoted these. People communication needs were met. Information was provided to people in accessible formats.

There was a complaints procedure in place. People knew how to complain if they needed to. People told us the service was well run. Staff told us they had the leadership and direction they needed to do their jobs effectively.

The quality of the service was regularly assessed and monitored. The registered manager and staff demonstrated a commitment to their roles. The registered manager complied with the requirements of their registration.

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 the service under their previous registration was good.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Mears Care - Bromley on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.