We carried out a review of the data available to us about Martins on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Martins, you can give feedback on this service.
Martins is a residential care home providing personal care to two people who may have autism or a learning disability, at the time of the inspection. It is a specialist service for people that have anxious or emotional behaviour that has limited their quality of life and experiences. The service can support up to two people.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
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:
People were supported by a staff team who were kind compassionate and knew people well. People had been supported to improve their communication and empowered to be involved in making important decisions about their care and treatment. People were independent and supported to follow individual interests.
People were safe and happy living at Martins. Staff understood their responsibilities to safeguard people from abuse and avoidable harm. People had been encouraged to take positive risks, including working with tools. Medicines were administered safely, and people had been supported to reduce their medicines.
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.
Staff had the skills and experience to deliver effective care. When people’s needs changed they were supported to make healthcare appointments.
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 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.
The manager created a person-centred culture which placed people at the heart of the service. There were strong relationships formed between people and staff.
Rating at last inspection:
At the last inspection the service was rated Good. (Published 14 December 2016)
Why we inspected:
This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as
per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
Martins is a service for two people who have Autism and learning disabilities. It is a specialist service for people that have anxious or emotional behaviour that has limited their quality of life and experiences. The home is set in a rural area in a small street with a few other houses nearby. There is a good size secure garden behind the house and a workshed. There is a drive up to the property with off road parking for one vehicle.
The service had a registered manager and deputy 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.
There was a person centred culture where people were supported to have the lifestyle they chose. Meetings were held regularly with people to plan and discuss their goals and aspiriations so that the service was run in the way they wanted.
People were cared for and supported to develop their independence and confidence. There were plenty of staff who were well organised. People chose which staff were going to support them each day with their different activities and interests. Staff were committed and worked hard to provide a service that suited each person and increased their quality of lifestyle.
The home was run in a family style. It was warm, friendly and people’s individuality was respected and nurtured. Staff were trained and competent to carry out their roles. Staff were supervised and had yearly appraisals. All staff were checked before they started work at the service to make sure they were of good character and safe to work with people. People were involved in recruiting new staff. People asked questions about the things that were important to them to make sure new staff had the skills needed to support their lifestyle.
Staff supported people effectively to help them overcome any barriers to their relationships with other people. People had as many opportunities as they wanted to go out and about meet people and live an ordinary lifestyle. Relationships with their families and other people who were important to them were supported. People were helped to make arrangements to meet up and celebrate important events with people they cared for, like birthdays with family members.
People were encouraged to try new experiences and develop new interests to enrich their lifestyle and increase their confidence and self esteem. Noticeboards and planners were used to assist people to plan activities and events. A variety of day to day activities were ongoing inside and outside the home and there were plans for holidays and trips further afield. People were supported to contribute in the service and in the local area to help others and be valued members of the community. People were encouraged and supported to have their voices heard through ‘My Voice’ meetings within the organisation.
People said or expressed that they felt safe in the service and staff had a clear understanding of what could be abuse and how to report it. There was a relaxed and calm atmosphere and people were treated with kindness and compassion.
There was a system of risk assessment to protect people as much as possible without limiting their experiences. Each situation and opportunity was assessed for how it would enhance the person’s quality of life and what the potential risks were. Positive risks were taken to help people develop their independence.
Mealtimes were organised in the way each person preferred. People made their own meals as much as possible and were encouraged to eat a healthy diet. The kitchen was practically designed with everything accessible and only high risk items such as sharp knives were kept securely out of the way when not being used.
The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The registered manager and staff showed that they understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Mental capacity assessments had been carried out to determine people’s level of capacity to make decisions in their day to day lives and for more complex decisions when needed. Applications for DoLS authorisations had been made for people who needed constant supervision because of their disabilities. There were no unnecessary restrictions to people’s lifestyles.
People were supported to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. People’s days included plenty of exercise and activities. People particularly enjoyed cycling and walking in the local area. Health and social care professionals were involved as much as needed. Each person had clear guidelines and support to manage health conditions like epilepsy and to take prescribed medicines safely.
The registered manager used effective systems to continually monitor the quality of the service and had ongoing plans for improving the service people received. There was a clear complaints procedure and process that was designed to enable people to express their views and were responded to in a way they could understand. The registered manager welcomed complaints and used the opportunity to improve the service.
Plans were in place so if an emergency happened, like a fire, the staff knew what to do. People were encouraged to participate in the running of the home and helped to carry out some of the safety checks. There were regular fire drills so people knew how to leave the building safely. Safety checks were carried out regularly throughout the building and the equipment to make sure they were safe to use.
Comments received about the service included 'I am happy here I have no concerns' another person said 'staff help me'. One person spoke of the support they got finding a part time job and opportunities to go out and take part in activities. They also said they had regular meetings with staff to discuss issues and that they liked it written down. They said that this helped them to work things out and communicate any issues or concerns.
People were provided with a choice of suitable and nutritious food and drink. People told us they were happy with the food and liked the meals.
An actionplan was in place to address any issues within the environment and an there was also an ongoing maintenance plan. Regular health and safety checks took place to ensure the safety of people using the service. Information about peoples' experiences had also been asked for and gathered in such a way to allow for monitoring of risks and the quality of care delivery.
Through direct observation, discussions with staff and records viewed we could see that the service actively encouraged people to be members of the wider community. The service provided imaginative and varied opportunities for people to develop and maintain social, emotional, communication and independent living skills. The staff had a strong ethos and focused on involving people in all areas of their lives.
People told us they were able to make decisions about their care and day to day lives. People told us that the service responded to their needs and that staff talked to them regularly about their plan of care and any changes that may be needed.