Caremark (Wokingham and Bracknell)

Updated 25 January 2019

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 03 January 2019 and was announced. The service was given two working days’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service. We needed to be sure that the appropriate staff would be available in the office to assist with the inspection. The inspection was completed by one inspector.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We looked at all the information we have collected about the service. This included notifications the registered manager had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.

We looked at paperwork for six people who receive a service. This included support plans, daily notes and other documentation, such as medication records. In addition, we looked at records related to the running of the service. These included a sample of health and safety, quality assurance, staff recruitment and training records.

We received three written comments and spoke with two people after the day of inspection. We spoke directly with five staff members and received written comments from a further four. On the day of the inspection we spent time with the registered manager and the organisation’s nominated individual. We requested information from two local authorities including their safeguarding teams. We received positive responses from both.

Updated 25 January 2019

This was an announced inspection which took place on 03 January 2019.

Caremark (Wokingham) is a domiciliary care agency providing support and care for people living in their own homes in the Wokingham and Bracknell area. Caremark (Wokingham) is a franchisee of Caremark a national organisation supporting a large number of local care companies. Caremark (Wokingham) support people with diverse needs including dementia, learning disabilities, sensory impairment and physical disabilities. They are currently providing a service to approximately 70 people. However, this number fluctuates depending on the needs of the community.

At the last inspection, on 05 July 2016, the service was rated as good in all domains. This meant that the service was rated as overall good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

People, staff and visitors were kept as safe as possible. They were protected from harm because staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults and health and safety policies and procedures. Staff understood what action they needed to take if they identified any concerns. General risks and risks to individuals were identified and action was taken to reduce them, as far as possible. People were supported to take their medicines safely (if they needed support in this area) and medicines given were recorded accurately. People were supported by care staff whose values and attitudes had been tested and who had been safely recruited.

Staff were able to meet people’s needs safely and effectively. There were enough staff who were given enough time to meet their identified needs. The service did not accept care packages if they could not meet people’s identified needs.

People were assisted by care staff who had been trained and supported to make sure they could meet people’s individual needs. Care staff were effective in meeting people’s needs as described in plans of care. The service was worked closely with health and other professionals to ensure they could meet any specific, complex needs.

People were assisted to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The staff team remained committed to providing people with kind and compassionate care. Care staff were able to build good working relationships with people and met their needs. The management team and care staff were aware of people’s equality and diversity needs which were noted on plans of care. People were encouraged to be as independent as they were able to be.

People continued to benefit from a flexible and responsive service that could meet individual’s current and changing needs and preferences. People’s needs were reviewed regularly to ensure the care provided was up-to-date. Care plans included information to ensure people’s individual communication needs were understood.

The registered manager was described as very supportive, caring and flexible. The registered manager, provider and the staff team were committed to embracing diversity and did not tolerate any form of discrimination. The service assessed, reviewed and improved the quality of care provided. The service worked closely with the local authority to respond to the changing needs and expectations of the local community.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.