Archived: Mears Care - Bromley

Updated 7 August 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an expert by experience (ExE) who made phone calls to people and their relatives to ask about their views of the service. An ExE 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 provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing.

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 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit. This was because we wanted to make sure there was a member of the management team available to give us access to records.

Inspection activity started and ended on 18 June 2019. We visited the office location to see the registered manager and staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received since the service registered. We used information the provider had sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). 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 checked information held about the service such as notifications of significant incidents.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service, four relatives, three care staff, the deputy manager, registered manager and housing manager. We looked at four care records for people, four staff files including recruitment, training and supervision records and records relating to the quality assurance of the service.

Updated 7 August 2019

About the service:

This service provides personal care to people living in their flats in a specialist ‘extra care’ housing. 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. The service provided personal care to 60 people in their flats at the time of the inspection.

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

People told us they felt safe. Staff knew what to do if they thought somebody was at risk of abuse; and they knew about their responsibilities to whistle-blow to protect people. People’s care needs, and risks were assessed before they started using the service; and reviewed regularly. Care plans were in place and showed how people’s needs would be met and actions taken to reduce identified risks. People received their medicines safely. Incidents and accidents were reported, and the registered manager reviewed them.

Staff received appropriate training and regular support and supervision to do their jobs effectively. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff were kind and caring; and gave people choice of how they wanted their care delivered. Staff respected people’s dignity, privacy and independence. Staff supported people to access healthcare services they needed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. People consented to their care before it was delivered. Staff and the provider understood their responsibilities to act within the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People were supported to engage in social and recreational activities they enjoyed. People were supported to maintain their cultural and religious beliefs. Staff understood equality and diversity issues and promoted these.

There was a complaints procedure in place and we saw complaints received were managed well.

There were systems in place to effectively assess and monitor the quality of service delivered. The registered manager and staff demonstrated a commitment to the continuous improvement of the service.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating of the service was Good (published 5 January 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.

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