MHA Care at Home - Alexander Branch

Updated 24 October 2018

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 comprehensive inspection took place on 03 October 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours' notice because we wanted to make sure the provider, or someone who could act on their behalf, would be available to support the inspection.

Our team consisted of one inspector and one expert-by-experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR and other information we had about the service including statutory notifications. Notifications are information about specific events that the service is legally required to send us.

We reviewed records including: the programme of medication records, four care plans, three staff recruitment and training files and other information relating to the management of the service including quality audits. We observed interactions between staff and people using the service.

We spoke with 13 people using the service and five relatives. We contacted professionals both before and after our inspection, however we did not receive any responses. We spoke with the registered manager, one senior and three care staff.

Updated 24 October 2018

We undertook an inspection of MHA Care at Home – Alexander Branch on 3 October 2018. The inspection was announced, which meant that the provider knew we would be visiting. This is because we wanted to ensure that the provider, or someone who could act on their behalf, would be available to support the inspection.

MHA Care at Home - Alexander Branch is a domiciliary care and extra care housing service that is registered to provide personal care to people living in the flats owned by Methodist Homes at Walcot Court. There were 16 people receiving personal care at the time of our inspection.

At our last inspection we rated the service 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.

People received a safe service and were suitably protected from potential abuse and risks to their health through risk assessments and safe medicines management.

Staff received training, frequent supervision sessions and appraisals, this meant that staff had the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of people.

People were assisted to access healthcare services when required. Care plans were sufficiently detailed and reflected people’s wishes and preferences. The service organised various activities and this meant that people were not at risk from social isolation.

Interactions between staff and people were caring, staff knew people well and treat them as individuals.

There was a clear staff structure and positive team culture. People, staff and relatives spoke positively about the registered manager.

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

Further information is in the detailed findings below