Caremark (West Berkshire and Reading)

Caremark (West Berkshire and Reading) is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to people living in their own homes. It provides a service to older adults, younger adults, people living with dementia, physical disability, learning disability, sensory impairments, eating disorders, mental health diagnoses and substance misuse. Not everyone who uses the service receives personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal support with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection 40 people were receiving personal care delivered by 22 staff.

People were protected from the risk of avoidable harm by staff, who understood how to safeguard people from discrimination, neglect, and abuse. Enough staff were deployed, with the right mix of skills to deliver care and support to meet people's needs. Staff assessed risks to people's health and well-being, which were managed effectively. People mostly experienced good continuity and consistency of care from regular staff who knew them well and how they wished their care to be delivered. Staff had been recruited safely in accordance with regulations. People received prescribed medicines safely from staff who had their competency to do so regularly assessed. Staff had raised concerns and reported incidents, to protect people from similar events in the future. We were assured that staff followed good infection control and safe food hygiene practices.