Archived: Mencap - Malvern Gate

Updated 8 March 2017

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 15 February 2017 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. One inspector carried out this inspection.

Before the inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service and looked at the notifications they had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

This inspection used the standard CQC assessment and ratings framework for community adult social care services, but included testing some new and improved methods for inspecting adult social care community services. The new and improved methods are designed to involve people more in the inspection, and to better reflect their experiences of the service. We spoke with one person, one care staff and the service manager. As one person used the service we have not used quotes within this report and the examples we have given are brief because we respect people’s right to confidentiality. We looked at one record about people’s care and completed daily notes, charts about medicines, staff training records and quality audits that the registered manager had competed

Updated 8 March 2017

This inspection took place on 15 February 2017 and was announced.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to younger disabled adults. There was one person using the service when we inspected. There was a registered manager who is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

As one person used the service we have therefore not used quotes within this report and the examples we have given are brief because we respect people’s right to confidentiality.

People were safe when staff were in their home providing care and received care from staff that protected them from the risk of potential abuse. People's individual risks had been recorded and reviewed. Staff told us they looked at the plans in place to understand how to keep each person safe when at home or outside. There was a small staffing team who provided care at the agreed days and time. People’s medicines were managed by staff who had been trained and supported by observations from management to administer these.

Staff received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs. Staff understood the need to gain people consent to care and treatment before providing any care or assistance.

People knew the staff well and people got to know them well. Care plans were in place that provided the level of personal information that people had wanted to share. The plans provided staff with guidance about people’s preferred support and people were involved in making decisions about their care. People were supported by staff that promoted and maintained their dignity, whilst respecting their levels of independence.

People received care from the service manager so they were always able to talk with them about any concerns if needed. Staff were able to speak with the registered manager and provide feedback on the service. The registered manager told us they kept their knowledge current and provide staff with input and direction about the levels of care they expected. Regular checks were completed to monitor the quality of the care that people received, that included reviewing records and observing staff practices.