Mayo House is registered to provide accommodation for seven people who require personal care. Each person has their own self-contained flat within the building. Five flats are on the ground floor and two on the first floor. At the time of our inspection seven people were using the service. Each person had complex needs and required individual support to help them manage their behaviours.This inspection was unannounced and took place on 10 and 11 August 2016.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.
In addition to the registered manager, a deputy manager was employed at the service, along with six team leaders, community support workers and ‘assigned bank workers’. A total of 32 staff were employed at the service.
People using the service had varied and complex needs. Some people required intensive support to assist them to manage their behaviours. Not every person was able to make their views known verbally. As a result staff were required to develop a range of skills and abilities to provide the care and support people needed. We found staff had been supported to develop these and people received a service that was planned and delivered around their individual needs. During our inspection we were also struck by the calm atmosphere in the service in addition to the caring and skilled approach of staff.
People were safe. Staff understood their role and responsibilities to keep people safe from harm. Risks were assessed and plans put in place to keep people safe. There was enough staff to safely provide care and support to people. Medicines were well managed and people received their medicines as prescribed. Emergency systems had been put in place to keep people, visitors and staff safe.
The service was effective. Staff received regular supervision and the training needed to meet people’s needs. Arrangements were made for people to see their GP and other healthcare professionals when required. People’s healthcare needs were met and staff worked with health and social care professionals to access relevant services. The service was compliant with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
People received a service that was caring. They were cared for and supported by staff who knew them well. Staff treated people with dignity and respect. People’s views were actively sought and they were involved in making decisions about their care and support. Information was provided in ways that was easy to understand. People were supported to maintain relationships with family and friends.
The service was exceptionally responsive to people’s needs. People received person centred care and support. They were offered a range of individual activities both at the service and in the local community, based upon their hobbies and interests. People, relatives and staff were encouraged to make their views known and the service responded by making changes. Transitions for people moving to the service were very well planned. Staff had worked to ensure people had fair and equal access to healthcare services.
People benefitted from a service that was exceptionally well led. The registered manager and senior staff were well respected and demonstrated good leadership and management. They had an open, honest and transparent management style. The management team were experienced and had received appropriate leadership and management training and advanced training in positive behavioural support. The provider had sophisticated systems in place to check on the quality of service people received and any shortfalls identified were acted upon. The vision and values of the service were effectively communicated. The management team had a clear plan for further developing and improving the service people received.