Meadowvale Homecare Ltd improved from Requires Improvement to Good across all five key questions following a follow-up inspection on 25 October 2022, having resolved all previous regulatory breaches relating to risk records, recruitment, and governance. The service demonstrated safe care, well-trained and compassionate staff, person-centred practice, and significantly strengthened quality assurance processes.
Concerns (3)
minor
Record keeping
: “Sometimes staff recorded the wrong reason by using the wrong code. The provider was looking into simplifying this process to reduce recording errors.”
minorCommunication with families: “We received mixed feedback from relatives as to whether the provider always gave them feedback after raising a concern.”
minorStaff competency: “Some relatives told us they thought some support workers' skills could be improved in this area... 'Some of the carers are not sure how the equipment in the kitchen works.'”
Strengths
· Risks to people were appropriately assessed and managed with up-to-date care plans and risk assessments containing person-centred guidance.
· Staff were recruited safely with appropriate pre-employment checks carried out.
· Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed.
· Staff wore appropriate PPE and received suitable infection control training.
· Staff received robust inductions, were suitably trained, and kept up to date with essential training.
Quality-Statement breakdown (21)
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawGood
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely care; supporting people to access healthcare servicesGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferences; end of life care and supportGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Supporting people to develop and maintain relationships to avoid social isolation; support to follow interests and take part in activitiesGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements; continuous learning and improving careGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staff, fully considering their equality characteristicsGood