Archived: Mill House

Updated 25 August 2016

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.

We made an unannounced inspection on 5 August 2016. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

We looked at the information we held about the service and the provider. We looked at statutory notifications that the provider had sent us. Statutory notifications are reports that the provider is required to send us by law about important incidents that have happened at the service.

We contacted the local authority before our inspection and asked them if they had any information to share with us about the care provided to people.

Before the inspection, 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. This information helped us to focus our inspection.

We observed how staff supported people throughout the day. We spoke with three people who lived at the home, the manager, two members of staff and two relatives. We looked at one care record, which included risk assessments, guidance from health professionals and capacity assessments. We also looked at the quality assurance audits that were completed by the manager.

Updated 25 August 2016

Mill House is located in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. The service provides accommodation and care for up to four people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders. On the day of our inspection, there were four people living at the home.

The inspection took place on 5 August 2016 and was unannounced.

There was a registered provider in post , who was also the manager; there was not a legal requirement of this service to have a registered manager in post. Registered providers and registered managers 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 were involved in decisions made about keeping them safe. People's freedom was encouraged and maintained, whilst ensuring their safety. Where possible, people administered their own medicines. People received their medicines safely and as prescribed by their GP.

People's health was maintained and they received input from a range of specialist health professionals. People were supported by staff who understood the importance of obtaining people's consent in the care they received and in offering choices. People enjoyed a healthy and varied diet, which included produce they had grown themselves.

People were supported by staff who had ongoing training, which was tailored to meets the needs of people living at the home.

People's beliefs, faiths and personal preferences were respected by staff. People's individual communication styles were known by staff, and they were involved in decisions about their care.

People's needs were assessed and reviewed. People were able to pursue a range of individual hobbies and interests and were encouraged to do so. People knew how to complain and to make suggestions about the service they received.

People were actively involved in their local community and in developing new community-based initiatives for the benefit of the wider community. People benefited from a positive, open and inclusive atmosphere where they were encouraged to lead the lives they chose.