Medway House

Updated 7 June 2018

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 was a comprehensive inspection which took place on 23 and 30 April 2018. The inspection was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by a single inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed our records about the service, including previous inspection reports, notifications and other information we had received from or about the provider. We also reviewed the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make We also spoke with a representative from a local authority which had placed a person at the home.

During our inspection we spoke with three people who lived at the home, the registered manager, the provider and two members of the care team. We spent time observing care and support being delivered in the communal areas, including interactions between staff members and people who lived at the home. We looked at records, which included three people’s care records, three staff records, policies and procedures, medicines records, and other records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 7 June 2018

Medway House is a residential care home for six people with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there were six people living at the home.

At our previous inspection of Medway House on 14 February 2017 we rated the service good in all areas. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People told us that they felt safe living at Medway House. We saw that people were comfortable and familiar with the staff supporting them.

Staff members had received safeguarding adults training, and were able to demonstrate their understanding of what this meant for the people they were supporting. They were knowledgeable about their role in ensuring that people were safe and that concerns were reported appropriately.

Medicines at the home were well managed. People’s medicines were managed and given to them as prescribed and records of medicines were well maintained. Staff members had received training in the safe administration of medicines.

We saw that staff at the home supported people in a caring and respectful way, and responded promptly to meet their needs and requests. There were enough staff members on duty to meet the needs of the people using the service.

The home was meeting the requirements of The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Information about people’s capacity to make decisions was included in their support plans.

Staff who worked at the home received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. Appropriate checks had taken place as part of the recruitment process to ensure that staff were suitable for the work that they would be undertaking. All staff members received regular supervision from a manager and those whom we spoke with told us that they felt well supported.

We saw that the meals provided to people were healthy and varied. Some people ate vegetarian food in accordance with their religion and we saw that this was respected and supported. People were encouraged to request the food that they wished to eat on a weekly basis and staff purchased these for them when shopping for the home. Some people also purchased their own food. Drinks and snacks were available to people throughout the day. People were supported and encouraged to prepare food for themselves where they were able and willing to do so.

Support plans and risk assessments were person centred and provided detailed guidance for staff around meeting people’s needs. These were regularly reviewed and updated where there were any changes in people’s needs. The plans also showed that people had been supported to develop the confidence and skills they required to move on to supported living services or other suitable accommodation.

People were supported to participate in a range of activities in the local community. Staff members supported people to plan an annual holiday. Staff members also encouraged and supported people to identify new activities of their choice. People’s cultural, religious and social needs were supported by the service and detailed information about these was contained in their support plans.

The home had a complaints procedure that was provided in an easy read format. This was discussed at regular resident’s meetings. People told us that they would tell the manager or staff member if they were unhappy about anything.

The home’s policies and procedures were up to date and reflected legal requirements and current best practice. Regular quality assurance monitoring had taken place and actions had been taken to ensure that concerns arising from these checks were addressed promptly.

People’s physical and mental health needs were regularly reviewed. The service liaised with other health and social care professionals to ensure that people received the support that they needed.