MJ Home Care Staffing Limited

Updated 13 April 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

This was a targeted inspection to check on a concern we had about staffing and recruitment.

Inspection team

The inspection was conducted by one inspector.

Service and service type

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

This service also provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We announced the inspection shortly before inspection activity commenced.

Inspection activity started on 23 March 2023 and ended on 28 March 2023. We visited the location’s office on 23 March 2023.

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. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people using the service and 2 relatives. We spoke with 5 staff members which included the registered manager and nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed 4 staff recruitment records.

Updated 13 April 2023

About the service

MJ Home Care Staffing Limited provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes. It provides a service to older people and younger adults who may have a range of needs arising from dementia, learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder, mental health, physical disability and sensory impairment. Some people using the service were living in supported living houses.

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 our inspection 68 people were receiving the regulated activity personal care. This included four people with a learning disability and mental health needs who were living within supported living houses.

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

Medication was mostly managed safely. In one person’s medication file we noted a discrepancy in the stock check that had been completed that day. The management team were made aware and addressed the issue found.

Staff were mostly recruited safely. In one staff file, we noted some gaps in employment history. The management team were made aware and addressed the issue found. The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.

We received mixed feedback from people who used the service and relatives. The provider and registered manager were aware and told us that they continued to work with people and relatives to address the concerns.

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.

People's care needs, and risks were assessed; and care plans detailed how people's needs would be met and actions to minimise identified risks.

Incidents and accidents were reported, and the registered manager reviewed them and took actions to reduce a repeat of such incidents.

Infection control procedures and measures were in place to protect the person from infection control risks associated with COVID-19.

People consented to their care before it was delivered. Staff and the provider understood their responsibilities to act within the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Quality checks monitored the care and support provided to people so that improvements to the service were made when deficiencies were found.

The staff, registered manager and service manager were open and transparent throughout our inspection. The registered manager and service manager acted efficiently on queries and feedback throughout the inspection.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Based on our review, the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

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.

The support people received was person centred. People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. Within one of the supported living services, we observed kind, relaxed, compassionate and caring interactions between one person and staff.

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 10 October 2020 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, which will help inform when we next inspect.