The Mount

Updated 4 January 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

One inspector carried out this inspection, supported by an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type:

The Mount is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at

during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did:

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse; and we sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We assessed the information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection, we spoke with five people who used the service and three relatives to ask about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, the care manager, the business manager, the activities co-ordinator and four care staff, one of whom was an agency worker. After the inspection, we telephoned a professional involved with the service to get their views on how the service supported people.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records and multiple medication records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the home and a variety of policies and procedures developed and implemented by the provider.

Updated 4 January 2019

What life is like for people using this service:

People liked living at The Mount and had positive, trusting relationships with staff and the management team. Staff were kind and caring, treated people with respect and promoted their privacy and dignity at all times. People’s diversity was recognised and promoted by the staff and systems were in place to meet people’s communication needs.

People received highly personalised care from staff who were well trained and supported. The provider ensured there were sufficient, suitably recruited staff to meet people’s needs and promote their wellbeing. Staff knew how to protect people from the risk of abuse. Risks associated with people’s care were identified and managed safely, including receiving their prescribed medicines. People were supported to have a varied and healthy diet and to access other professionals to maintain good health.

People told us they felt involved in their care and the running of the home. Staff empowered people to have maximum choice and control of their lives and supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. Staff worked tirelessly to ensure people had the opportunity to engage in activities that met their individual needs and enabled them to live as full life as possible. There was a strong focus on companionship and making links with others community resources to increase people’s circle of friends.

People benefitted from a service that had an open and inclusive culture. The management team led by example and monitored the quality and safety of the service to ensure it remained safe for people. Staff enjoyed working at the service and felt supported and valued by the management team.

People and their relatives felt confident any concerns and complaints they raised would be acted on. The provider listened and acted on people’s views to drive improvements at the service.

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 3 March 2016).

About the service:

The Mount is a care home for up to 11 people who have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. The service is provided in a large converted home, with outbuildings adapted to provide additional areas including an internet café, activities room and a quiet room. At the time of this inspection 10 people used the service.

The provider promotes and ensures the service meets the values that underpin the ‘Registering the Right Support’ and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained rated Good overall and continued to meet the characteristics of Outstanding in the Responsive domain.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.