About the service Milner House is a residential respite service providing accommodation and personal care for up to three people. Respite is planned or emergency temporary care. The service accommodates older people or children aged between 16-18 years old, who are living with a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder, dementia or a mental health condition. On the day of our visit, only one person was using the service, but other people were due to use the service during our inspection period. Milner House accommodates people over a ground floor. People have their own bedroom and en-suite facilities. There is also a shared kitchen, living space and garden.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People continued to be protected from the risk of abuse because systems and processes supported this practice. Risks to the environment and people’s health had been identified, assessed and managed safely. Medicines were managed safely. The home was clean, tidy and odour free and staff followed good infection control processes.
There were enough staff to keep people safe and staff had been recruited safely. There was a regular training programme which gave staff the right knowledge and skills for their roles. Positive feedback was received about the caring nature of staff and staff were committed to providing person centred care.
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.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The service was committed to ensuring people who used the service continued with their usual hobbies and routines.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People were referred to healthcare services where necessary, and the provider worked in partnership with other health agencies to support a smooth transition between services. A healthy lifestyle was promoted and people had free access to food and drinks of their choice.
Systems and processes monitored the quality of the service provided. This included regular checks on the safety of the environment and the quality of care people receive. We received positive feedback about the management of the service and there was an open culture where people, relatives and staff felt able to raise concerns. Any concerns were investigated thoroughly. The provider was committed to continuously improving the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 01 September 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.