Background to this inspection
Updated
31 December 2019
Start this section with the following heading:
The inspection
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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Inspection activity commenced on 17 October and was completed on 29 October 2019.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.
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
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service. This information included any statutory notifications that the provider had sent to the CQC. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. 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. We used this and all other information we had about the service to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 13 people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care and support provided. We spoke with 16 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, compliance manager, area manager, business manager, support managers, senior care workers, care workers, activities co-ordinator and the chef.
We reviewed a range of records. This included 10 people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 10 staff files in relation to recruitment, staff supervision and training. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with a professional who regularly visits the service.
Updated
31 December 2019
About the service
The Mildmays is an extra care service providing care and support to 69 people at the time of our inspection. People lived in individual flats in three locations close to each other within the London Borough of Islington. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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
People told us they felt safe and staff were kind. Engagement between staff and people using the service was caring and respectful. Staff provided people with personalised care and support that met their needs and preferences.
People's care and support plans were up to date and personalised. They included information about people’s individual needs and guidance for staff to follow to make sure people received the care and support they required.
Staff were caring and treated people with dignity. People’s differences including cultural, religious and relationship needs and preferences were understood and respected by staff.
People were supported to maintain good health and to eat and drink well. The service provided a meals service for people who chose not to cook or eat their meals in their flats. People were provided with a range of meal choices and told us that their individual preferences were always met.
People’s independence was promoted and supported by staff. Staff recognised and respected people’s abilities. People had opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities at the service and within the community. People were supported to have the relationships they wanted with families and friends.
Staff knew what their responsibilities were in relation to keeping people safe. They recognised this importance of reporting any concerns they had about people's welfare and how to protect them from abuse.
Risks to people's health and wellbeing were assessed and regularly reviewed. Staff acted to minimise these risks and keep people safe.
Arrangements were in place to ensure that people received their prescribed medicines safely. Risk assessments were in place for people who managed their own medicines.
The provider recruited staff carefully to ensure that staff were suitable for their role. Staff had the skills and knowledge to provide people with the care and support that they needed. They received the training and support that they needed to enable them to carry out their roles and responsibilities.
People were supported to have choice in their daily lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
The registered manager showed effective leadership and the service was well run. Staff felt supported. Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality and delivery of care to people and drive improvement. Actions had been taken to ensure that concerns arising from quality monitoring were addressed.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection:
This was out first inspection of this newly registered service.
Why we inspected:
This was a scheduled planned comprehensive inspection.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive. We will inspect in line with our inspection programme or sooner if required.