Background to this inspection
Updated
2 August 2017
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.
This inspection took place on 23 May 2017 and was unannounced. One inspector carried out the inspection. Before the inspection, we gathered and reviewed information we held about the service. We looked at statutory notifications. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection, we spoke with three people using the service. We spoke with the registered manager of the service, and two care staff.
We completed general observations of the service, including interactions between people and staff. We looked at five care records and the medicine administration records (MARS) for all people living at the service. We also looked at other records relating to the management of the service including service audits and questionnaires.
After the inspection, we contacted two health care professionals for their feedback about the service.
Updated
2 August 2017
St Martins Haven is a residential care home for up to six people living with mental ill health. At the time of the inspection there were five people receiving care and support living at the service.
At the last inspection on 10 April 2015, the service was rated Good. However, we found one breach of regulation at that inspection. Consent was not always obtained from people to help them to manage their finances. The service had also restricted a person’s freedom without formal assessment of their capacity to make decisions. At this inspection, we found improvements were made at the service to meet the regulations inspected. At this inspection, the service remained Good.
The service has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People gave staff their consent to receive care. People had information about their care and support needs in a format they understood. This enabled people to make informed choices about the care and support they received and to maintain their independence. Staff understood how to care for people in line with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People remained able to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Policies and systems in the service support this practice. All people living at the service had a door key in line with their DoLS authorisation. This enabled people to leave and return to the service as they wished.
Staff understood how to keep people safe from harm and abuse. People’s money was managed in safe way. Records showed that people accessed their money as they chose and staff supported people with money management if they required this support. Staff continued to update their knowledge of safeguarding procedures. The registered provider had established and embedded safeguarding processes that in the service.
Risks to people’s health and well-being continued to be identified. Staff managed and reduced those risks by following the guidance in place in people’s risk management plans. People’s needs continued to be assessed and care was delivered to meet them.
Medicines continued to be managed in a safe way for people. There were embedded systems in place to ensure staff administered, ordered and disposed of medicines safely.
People told us that there was enough staff on duty to support them. We saw during the inspection that staff supported people when they needed them. The registered provider followed safe recruitment processes. This ensured suitable people came to work at the service with people once their pre-employment check were returned.
Staff continued to receive regular support from managers. There were training, appraisal and supervision systems embedded within the service. Staff reviewed their development needs and managers reviewed staff performance during these meetings.
People’s nutritional needs continued to be met by staff. Meals met people’s preferences and nutritional needs. Staff supported people with making a meal during the day. People had access to food and drink during the day to meet their needs.
People’s health and well-being needs were maintained through continued access to health care services. Staff made referrals to health care professionals for advice e when people’s care needs changed.
People told us that staff were respectful to them. Staff engaged well with people and demonstrated they were compassionate and kind. Decisions continued to be made with people, relatives and a health care professional. Dignity and privacy continued to be maintained for people.
People continued to have an assessment of their needs and care and support implemented to meet those needs. People continued to access social activities of their choice and maintained relationships that mattered to them. People were able to access their local community and take part in activities they enjoyed.
People had access to the complaint process. There were systems embedded in the service that supported people to make a complaint about the service if they were not satisfied about an aspect of their care.
The service continued to be managed by the registered manager. There was management oversight of the service and systems in place to manage the service and staff. Staff were complimentary about the registered manager and felt respected by them.
The registered manager continued to inform the Care Quality Commission of incidents that occurred. People continued to live in a service that was routinely reviewed and monitored. The service ensured action was taken promptly to ensure the quality of care was of a good standard.