This focused inspection of Wisteria Care found the Effective key question had improved from Requires Improvement to Good, primarily due to the service now working fully within MCA principles with robust capacity assessments and best interest decisions in place. Overall rating remains Good, with staff training, multi-agency working and person-centred assessment all noted as strengths.
Strengths
· Service improved MCA compliance; detailed decision-specific mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions now in place
· Staff consistently seek consent before providing care; people confirmed this in feedback
Focused inspection of safe and well-led at Wisteria Care, a domiciliary care agency supporting 99 people, found both key questions remained Good with the overall rating staying Good. Mixed feedback on visit timings and communication had prompted action by the registered manager, and people felt safe with skilled, caring staff.
Concerns (3)
minorMissed or late visits: “Although people were very satisfied with the care they received, their feedback about visit timings was mixed.”
minorCommunication with families: “People had mixed views about communication with the service. We raised this with the registered manager who accepted improvements had been required.”
minorStaffing levels: “At times of staffing shortages, due to sickness or vacancies, people's needs were prioritised according to risk.”
Strengths
· People expressed confidence in the skills and competence of staff and would recommend the service
· Robust recruitment and selection procedures including verified references and DBS checks
· Up-to-date individual risk assessments with proportionate control measures
· Staff demonstrated good understanding of safeguarding signs and whistleblowing routes
· Safe medicines management with regular staff competency checks
Quality-Statement breakdown (9)
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuse; Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements; duty of candourGood
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; Continuous learning and improving care