The Care Quality Commission
  • Services in your home
  • Homecare service

Archived: Mears Care - Dudley

Regis House, 223 Halesowen Road, Old Hill, Cradley Heath, West Midlands, B64 6JE (01384) 413367

Provided and run by:
Cera Care Operations Limited

All Inspections

30 January 2014

During a routine inspection

We spoke with eight people receiving personal care, three carers, the care coordinator, visiting officer and senior care worker.

People were happy with the support provided and described carers as kind and friendly. One person said, "Living in your own home is so important and I can only do this with their help'.

People were provided with information about the service so that they could make an informed decision. We saw that people's consent had been sought for all aspects of their care and they had signed to agree this.

People had been fully consulted about their needs and their support plans reflected where they needed assistance. Plans were personal to people's individual needs and provided guidance to carers on supporting people in the manner they had chosen.

People told us that care workers were reliable and consistent and they had the support they needed when they needed it. One care worker said, 'There are enough care workers to meet people's needs'.

People told us they were confident in making comments or complaints if they needed to and that the service responded to this.

18 December 2012

During a routine inspection

This inspection was unannounced so no one knew we would be going there. To determine the standard of care provided and the satisfaction of people using the service we spoke with nine people who used the service, one relative, four staff and the manager. The majority of people we spoke with told us positive things about the overall service provided. One person told us, "I am very happy with everything". Another person said, "The girls (staff) are very good".

People told us that choices were offered and their views had been taken into consideration. They also told us that their privacy and dignity was promoted and maintained.

People had been assessed and care plans had been produced to highlight the support that they needed and any risks that staff needed to be aware of. This meant that staff had enabled people to have their needs monitored and met safely.

Staff gave a good account of what they would do if they were concerned about anything or witnessed abuse.

Recruitment processes were adequately robust to give confidence that checking processes had been completed before staff started to provide care to the people using this service.

We found that systems had been used to monitor how the service had been run and people had been encouraged to raise concerns.

22 March 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

We carried out this review of compliance in response to concerns that we received from a Quality Assurance officer for a local council that used the agency.

We reviewed the service's compliance with a number of essential standards in June 2011. We found that the service was non compliant with three of the essential standards and suggested improvement actions for a further three essential standards.

This review was carried out to look at all the information we had received since we told the provider where they needed to improve. We visited the service to check the improvements.

We spoke with four people that used the service, one relative of someone that used the service and three staff members.

People told us that there were weekly checks made by the service to ensure they were happy and where required there would be follow up care plans. One person told us that the staff had 'got a folder, where they keep a log and we have to sign daily'.

One person told us that they were 'generally happy with the service, on occasions I haven't been but those concerns were quickly dealt with'.

Another person told us that the care was '99.9% of the time, it's what I need, it's a good service and the care is brilliant'.

One person also told us that there were reviews from time to time which included a social worker and 'if I wanted a review, it would be arranged and I'm always involved'.

People told us that the carers kept a daily record and documented when medication was prescribed.

People told us that they received verbal feedback from the service and that they had a 'very good' relationship with the service. People also told us that staff knew what was required and that staff often fitted in quickly.

People told us that they had a staff rota which told them which staff members to expect. One person told us that the staff 'always has ID, always had badge on, they are very good like that'.

One person told us that the staff 'whatever I ask, they do' and that they 'respect my privacy, very supportive and kind to me'.

13, 14 April 2011

During a routine inspection

People using the service told us that staff respected their privacy and dignity, and were encouraged and supported to maintain their independence.

People described the staff as friendly and polite and told us that they felt the staff were respectful and always left them feeling safe.

People told us that they were supported with food preparation and medication where this is needed. They confirmed that the support provided to them was done so in a way that they preferred.

People spoken with and their representatives were able to confirm that they knew what their plan of care said and confirmed they were in agreement. Comments included, 'happy with plan of care and happy with the support that's provided'

Majority of the people spoken with confirmed that there was a good continuity of care. Comments included, 'I usually have regular staff, unless they are on annual leave or of off sick'

People told us that if they had concerns they are confident that the staff, manager and service provider would act to put things right.

Staff members spoken with were aware of how to recognise potential abuse, and they told us they wouldn't hesitate to report any issues to the manager. People were positive about how staff cared for them.