Mediline Home Care Calderdale Branch

Updated 1 April 2021

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an 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.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to give time to prepare for our visit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inspection activity started remotely on 15 December 2020 and ended on 8 February 2021. We visited the office location on 23 February 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

We spoke with two people who used the service and nine relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager and care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We sought clarification from the registered manager in relation to travel time allocated on the staff rotas and confirmed improved medication administration records had been put in place.

Updated 1 April 2021

About the service

Mediline Home Care Calderdale is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care and support to people in their own homes. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of inspection there were 65 people receiving personal care from the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The provider had clear safeguarding policies and procedures in place to protect people from harm. Risks were appropriately assessed and reviewed. Medicines were managed safely. Safe recruitment processes were in place to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people. Infection prevention and control (IPC) systems were in place to reduce people’s risk of infection, including COVID-19.

Most 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. However, we have made a recommendation about blanket capacity assessments.

Staff received induction training and shadowed more experienced members of staff until they felt confident delivering care. People’s needs were assessed, and care and support was regularly reviewed. Appropriate referrals were made to external services to ensure people’s needs were met.

All the feedback we received was complimentary about the care staff. Staff knew people well and told us they provided care to the same people, which ensured continuity of care. Staff involved people in decisions about their day to day care and consulted people regarding what they wanted.

We have made a recommendation about the Accessible Information Standards.

People’s care records documented the level of care and support required, they were up to date and were regularly reviewed. The registered manager was improving the documentation to ensure there was an opportunity for end of life care planning to be discussed at initial assessment, care planning creation and at the care reviews. Complaints were investigated and responded to appropriately.

People, relatives and staff spoke highly of the management at the service. Systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. People were provided with the opportunity to feedback on the service they received, and any issues were addressed. The service worked well in partnership with others to ensure the best outcomes for people.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 27 September 2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.

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.