We carried out a review of the data available to us about Caremark (Bristol) 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 Caremark (Bristol), you can give feedback on this service.
Caremark provides personal care and support to people in their own homes. At the time of inspection around 50 people were using the service who had a variety of needs.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received highly responsive care and support. Each person’s needs and wishes were placed at the centre of how their care was planned. The service was exceptionally well run, forward thinking and highly responsive.
The service worked closely with other professionals and organisations involved in people’s care. This was to ensure people with sometimes very complex needs could continue to use the service and as a result stay living at home.
There were many different innovative ways people were supported. These were to prevent the risk of social isolation and enhance the quality of people's lives. The service worked closely with healthcare professionals to provide skilled and very sensitive end of life care.
The providers, who were also the managers of the service, were dynamic and positive leaders. They took a key role conveying values and standards to the team. They did this by seeking ways to continuously improve and in turn lead to positive outcomes for people.
The service took a forward-thinking role in the community. They had built up strong links with the local hospital.
Social activities, events and networks were held. People who lived in isolation were encouraged to attend. The service had built up strong links with the community. They regularly supported charity events. The manager always aimed to improve the quality of service.
There were effective ways used to seek people's views on the service. The quality of the service was checked and monitored.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published November 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.
The inspection was announced. We gave the registered manager 48 hours notice of the inspection. We did this to ensure key staff were available for the inspection. At the time of the inspection the service was providing personal care to 41 people and employed 23 care and support workers. There were an additional seven management staff including two directors.
There was a registered manager (one of the directors) in post at the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The service people received was safe. There were effective safeguarding systems in place and all staff had received safeguarding training. Staff knew what to do if safeguarding concerns were suspected or witnessed or they had been told about something concerning. There were safe recruitment procedures in place to ensure unsuitable workers were not employed. Any risks to people’s health and welfare were assessed and management plans put in place to reduce or eliminate that risk. There were sufficient numbers of care and support workers employed to meet people’s needs. The service was actively recruiting more staff in order to be able to grow the business.
Where people were supported with their medicines this was done safely. Staff received safe administration of medicines training and their competency to support people properly was reviewed. The staff took appropriate measures to prevent and control any spread of infections.
The service was effective. People’s care and support needs were assessed prior to a service being delivered. This was to ensure the service had the capacity to meet their specific care needs and the staff had the necessary skills. The care and support workers were well trained and had regular supervision sessions with the registered manager.
People were supported with meal preparation where this had been identified as one of their care and support needs. The care and support workers monitored those people where the risk of malnutrition and dehydration had been identified. People were supported to access any health care services they required.
People’s capacity to make decisions for themselves regarding their care and support was assessed and kept under review. The staff were aware of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and understood their roles and responsibilities in supporting people to make their own choices and decisions.
People received a caring service. The care and support workers treated people with kindness and the feedback we received from people was overwhelmingly positive. People were treated with respect and dignity and the staff team were expected to deliver a service of the highest standard. People were involved in planning the care and support they received.
The service was responsive and provided each person with a person centred service. Staff providing care and support were familiar to people and knew them well. This because there was continuity of care and only one or a small number of staff delivered their support. Feedback was gathered from people regarding their views and experience of the service they received. Action was taken if people had complaints or concerns. The service made changes to improve care delivery in response to people’s views and opinions.
People received a service where good leadership and management was provided by the management team. The aims of the service were understood by all and care and support workers understood their roles and responsibilities. The quality and safety of the service people received was assessed and monitored and any areas needing improvement were identified and addressed.