Background to this inspection
Updated
26 October 2021
The inspection – Station Road
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, enabling people to live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
The service had a manager who was in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission. This means that the provider is solely legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the provider 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be the manager and care staff to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since being registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection. We spoke with eight people’s relatives on 5 August 2021 and used the information we received when visiting the supported living accommodation.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We were unable to speak directly with the people who used the service. We did, however, observe people’s interactions with staff on duty. We also spoke with five staff, this included the service manager area manager, quality assurance manager, deputy manager and one member of staff. We made calls to one further relative and one staff in the days following the office inspection.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records. We looked at three staff files in relation to their recruitment and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including care policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We asked for further records to be forwarded to us which included training and quality assurance records.
The inspection – Thomas Edward Mitton House
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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
This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
Thomas Edward Mitton House is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal are as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a registered 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 o
Updated
26 October 2021
This report contains information about two different services that are registered at the same location. They are Station Road and Thomas Edward Mitton House.
About the service
Station Road provides personal care and support to people with a learning disability or autism living in supported living accommodation. At the time of our inspection the service was supporting seven people.
CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The manager had recently commenced at the location. Communication between the manager and staff was good, but communication with the inspector was not so. We had to repeatedly ask for information to corroborate our inspection findings.
Systems to monitor the quality of the service were in place but not wholly effective with the running of the service.
Most risks were assessed and updated regularly. Personal evacuation plans in people’s support plans were not fully inclusive of people’s needs. People were supported to have their medicines in the right way and at the right time.
People were supported to be safe and protected from discrimination. Safety was a high priority for managers and staff, systems and processes to identify risk or potential abuse were robust. People’s freedom was respected, and they were supported to be as independent as they could be.
There were enough staff with the right skills to meet people’s needs and support them to stay safe. People liked the staff and had confidence in them to develop as individuals within the community.
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.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.
Right support: The model of care and how that is based in people’s own flat which maximises people’s choice, control and independence over their lives.
Right care: Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human rights.
Right culture: The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the provider is clearly stated in the vision and values documents and the Statement of Purpose. They explain to people the level of service they can expect and ensure care staff promote people using services to lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.
People were supported in a person-centred way. The overall culture of the service was empowering and inclusive. Staff promoted people’s human rights and protected people’s privacy and dignity. People and where required people’s relatives were consulted and included in decisions about their care and support and about the development of the service.
Staff knew how to communicate with people effectively and understood people’s needs well. People led independent lives and were empowered take part in the running and development of the service.
There was a clear organisational structure and staff understood their responsibilities. People, staff and relatives told us the senior managers were supportive, approachable and accessible.
Rating at last inspection
This is the first rating inspection for this service.
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the management of infection control at Thomas Edward Mitton House. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks and complete the first rating inspection for Station Road as well.
Enforcement
We have identified a breach in relation to Regulation 17 (Good Governance) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 at this inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
About the service
Thomas Edward Mitton House is a rehabilitation service for up to 16 people who have an acquired brain injury. At the time of inspection, the service was providing accommodation and personal care to 11 people at the service. The home is a purpose-built rehabilitation facility with 16 en-suite rooms all on the ground floor.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Risks were identified and mitigated through comprehensive risk assessments. The diverse staff team were experienced with a varying skill mix benefiting the individual rehabilitation needs of people. Medicines were stored and administered safely. Infection control procedures were in place and all staff were aware of these. When incidents occurred, the staff learned lessons through investigation procedures and made amendments where necessary.
The staff team were trained and skilled in relation to the needs of the people living there. People were asked for their consent when being supported by staff. 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. People are involved in the development of the menu, meals were nutritious as well as varied.
People and their relatives were included to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their care. The registered manager and the staff team were caring, ensuring they put people at the centre of their care. Staff respected people’s dignity and privacy.
Care was personalised with a focus on the individual needs and goals of the people living at Thomas Edward Mitton House. While no-one was receiving end of life care there were end of life care plans in place. The complaints and compliments procedure was displayed and discussed with people, all complaints had been responded to and actioned appropriately.
There were quality assurance systems and processes in place to ensure the service was meeting its designated purpose. The registered manager led from within the team, setting out the person-centred nature of the service. The staff worked effectively with healthcare professionals from the internal staff group and greater health community in meeting the needs of people living in the service.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 18 May 2018).
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the management infection control at Thomas Edward Mitton House. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.