Maltreath Residential Care Home

Updated 23 March 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Maltreath is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Maltreath is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection We spoke with 3 people who use the service. We spoke with 5 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, (the deputy manager was also the Nominated Individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider), senior carers and care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 peoples care records and multiple medicines records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed including policies, health and safety checks, meeting notes, accident and incident records and audits. After the inspection we spoke with 2 relatives.

Updated 23 March 2023

About the service

Maltreath is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 12 people. It specifically provides a service for people with mental health needs and some who are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 7 people using the service. Maltreath accommodates people in one building.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

There had been a change management of the service since our last inspection. People, staff and relatives spoke positively about changes that were taking place at the service.

People's records did not always contain the guidance and information needed to give people the care and support they needed in the way that suited them best. Detailed guidance was not always available to staff about how to mitigate risks to people and provide their care in the way they wanted. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s needs and know what action to take if risks occurred.

The registered manager had not always informed the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of notifiable events that happened at service in a timely way. They had realised this shortfall by the time we inspected and informed CQC retrospectively.

The provider and manager had a vision of how the service needed to develop and was striving to develop and improve the service offered to people. A governance framework was in place which covered all aspects of the service and the care delivered. Numerous quality assurance audits had been completed. When shortfalls had been identified, action had been taken and plans were in place to continue with the improvements.

People lived in an environment that needed upgrading and refurbishment. The management team had a renovation action plan in place. Significant works had been completed and there were on-going improvements throughout the service.

People told us they felt safe at the service. Staff had completed training in safeguarding and knew how to recognise and report abuse or neglect. Accident and incidents were recorded and analysed to look for trends and themes. Lessons had been learnt when things had gone wrong, and the management were open and honest about mistakes they had made. Action had been taken to reduce the risk of them from happening again.

The service had a safe recruitment process which ensured only suitable staff were employed. There were enough staff on duty to make sure people received the personal care and support they needed when they needed it. Staff had the appropriate training to enable them to carry out their roles effectively.

Staff had been trained in the administration of medicines. People received their medicines as prescribed, and the administration records were well kept. When people needed ‘as and when’ medicines there was guidance in place, so people were given there medicines consistently and safely. Staff had positive links with social and healthcare professionals which promoted people's wellbeing. Visiting professionals told us, "Maltreath has been very responsive and will not only follow professionals' advice but actively seek it in order to ensure they are following the right procedures and advice."

People were involved in planning changes at the service and the registered manager acted on feedback received from people and staff. Staff offered people choices in areas of their life and staff respected decisions they made. People told us they were supported to remain independent as possible.

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.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 14 December 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has remained good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation regarding improving records.

The overall rating for the service remains good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Maltreath on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.