Mark Time Care Limited

Guidance for staff about how to meet people's care needs and known risks, were inconsistent in the level of detail provided. Not all risks had been sufficiently assessed and planned for.

Where people required support with their prescribed medicines, staff were not following national best practice guidance. Improvements were required in the transcribing of medicines to ensure mistakes were not made.

We have made a recommendation about reviewing current medicine management best practice guidance.

Staff had received an induction and shadowed experienced staff. Staff had received training, but some training gaps were identified. Staff felt well supported by the registered manager, but opportunities for staff to discuss their work, training and development needs was informal.

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.

Staff ensured people's hydration and nutritional needs were met and they liaised with external health care professionals, to support people with their health conditions. People were protected from the risk of cross contamination because staff followed infection control prevention and control practice.

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's care needs and checks were completed on staff's suitability to work with people. Staff had received safeguarding training and people knew how to raise any concerns or complaints. Where incidents had occurred, these were recorded, reviewed and monitored. Action was taken to reduce further risks.

Staff were kind, caring and compassionate and understood people's needs. Staff encouraged people's independence and upheld their rights. People were involved in discussions and decisions about their care, but this needed to be formalised.

End of life care was not being provided at the time of the inspection, but people's wishes to some aspects of their end of life had been discussed with them.

Systems used to monitor the quality and safety of the service had recently been improved upon. This included oversight of people's care package to ensure staff had completed visits in accordance to their assessed needs. People received opportunities to share their experience of the service they received.

The registered manager was found to be caring, responsive and showed a determination and commitment to drive forward improvements. Where shortfalls in standards were identified during this inspection, they took immediate action to make improvements.

The registered manager understood their registration regulatory responsibilities.