Matthew Residential Care Limited - 1 Milton Avenue

Updated 4 November 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

Matthew Residential Care Limited – 1 Milton Avenue is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 3 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 4 members of staff including the registered manager, quality assurance manager and 2 care staff. We also spoke with a visiting professional from a healthcare team. Following this inspection, we received feedback from 1 relative.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people’s care records and medicines records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including 5 staff files, policies and procedures and quality assurance monitoring records.

Updated 4 November 2023

About the service

Matthew Residential Care Limited – 1 Milton Avenue is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation to 4 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 5 people.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture (RSRCRC) is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

During our last inspection we found the provider had made improvements to ensure that the underpinning principles of RCRSRC were addressed. However, we were not fully assured that the changes the service had made were fully embedded. At this inspection we found further improvements had been made.

Right Support: People were supported by staff who understood their needs and had received training to support them in their roles. We observed good communication between people and staff, and noted the provider was developing picture assisted and easy read information to enhance people’s understanding of the care and support they received. There were sufficient staff on duty to meet people’s identified needs and additional staffing was provided as required to support activities outside the home. The provider’s staffing rotas had not always been updated to accurately reflect staff members working at the home at any given time.

Right Care: People's care plans were regularly reviewed and updated to include important information and guidance for staff on supporting their identified needs. Staff understood people’s wishes and preferences and were observed to support people in a friendly and respectful manner. Where appropriate, staff encouraged people to take positive risks, such as participation in new activities. Staff had engaged with people, family members, health care professionals and other relevant individuals to ensure people’s care and support met their needs.

Right Culture: People and those important to them, such as family members, had been involved in planning their care and support. People were regularly asked about their needs and preferences and staff developed activities and support to ensure their individual choices were addressed. Staff training reflected current best practice in supporting people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Staff were supported to discuss best practice for the people they supported in supervisions and team meetings. People were provided with the support they required to use the home and the local community as they wished. There was no evidence of restrictive practice.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update - The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 31 October 2022). We made one recommendation regarding accessible information. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and further improvements were in progress.

Why we inspected

We carried out this inspection following concerns we had received from a local authority in relation to safeguarding of people living at the home.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Recommendations

We made one recommendation regarding ensuring the accuracy of staff rotas.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform us when we next inspect.