Archived: Matrixcare

Updated 8 January 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.

This inspection took place on 18 November 2015 and was unannounced. 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 by law to send to us, to inform us about incidents that have happened at the service, such as an accident or a serious injury. 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.

We spoke with three people who lived at the home, and two relatives. We looked at how staff supported people throughout the day.

We spoke with the registered manager, the provider and four staff. We also spoke to an independent person employed by the provider to inspect the home monthly. We spoke with a member of the speech and language therapy team and a social worker that supported people living at the home. We spoke with an assessor who supported staff with their job related qualifications, who regularly visited staff at the home. We looked at three records about people’s care. We also looked at three staff files, staff rosters, complaint files, and minutes of meetings with staff. We looked at quality checks on aspects of the service which the registered manager and provider completed.

Updated 8 January 2016

Matrixcare provides accommodation and personal care for people with a learning disability who may also have complex needs for five people. On the day of our inspection there were three people living at the home.

The inspection took place on the 18 November 2015 and was unannounced.

There was a registered manager at this home. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

Relatives said they were happy about the care their family member received. They told us staff were caring and promoted people’s independence. We saw people were able to maintain important relationships with family and friends. People had food and drink they enjoyed and had choices available to them, to maintain a healthy diet. Staff knew the people who lived at the home well and were able to support them to eat and drink. People were protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage them. Relatives told us they had access to health professionals as soon as they were needed.

Relatives said they felt included in planning for the care their relative received and were always kept up to date with any concerns. People living at the home were able to see their friends and relatives as they wanted. People had support available from independent advocates to help them make decisions. Relatives knew how to raise complaints and felt confident that they would be listened to and action taken to resolve any concerns. Staff and the registered manager knew people well and were aware if people were unhappy. The registered manager had arrangements in place to ensure people were listened to and action could be taken if required.

Staff we spoke with were aware of how to recognise signs of abuse, and systems were in place to guide them in reporting these. They were knowledgeable about how to manage people’s individual risks, and were able to respond to people’s needs. Staff had up to date knowledge and training to support people. We saw staff treated people with dignity and respect whilst supporting their needs. They knew people well, and were focussed on each person as an individual.

The registered manager promoted an inclusive approach to providing care for people living at the home. Staff were encouraged to be involved in regular meetings to share their views and concerns about the quality of the service. The registered manager included staff to support their learning and understanding of areas of legislation that effected people at the home. The provider and registered manager had systems in place to monitor how the service was provided, to ensure people received quality care.