Marston Court

Updated 26 February 2021

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.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 1 February 2021 and was unannounced.

Updated 26 February 2021

About the service

Marston Court is a residential care home that supported people of all ages with learning disabilities, some of whom were living with dementia. The service had 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.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 22 people. Twenty people were using the service at the time of the inspection. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home.

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

People felt safe living at Marston Court. Staff knew how to keep people safe whilst supporting them. Staff supported people to take their medicines in a safe way. People felt there were enough staff to support them. Risks associated with people’s needs were assessed and managed appropriately.

People were positive about the food and drink they received at the service and staff supported people with their dietary requirements effectively. Staff supported people to access appropriate healthcare services in a regular and timely manner.

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.

People and their relatives spoke very positively about the staff, they felt they were caring, kind and respectful. Staff encouraged people to live as independently as possible. Staff maintained people’s privacy and dignity whilst supporting them.

People were involved in developing their plans of care, which were individualised and gave staff the information to care for people in a personalised way. People engaged in a variety of different activities and were supported to be part of the community.

People and their relatives felt the service was well-led and were very complimentary about staff and management. The registered manager had comprehensive monitoring systems in place, they were aware of their responsibilities and worked with other agencies to ensure people received quality care and support.

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.

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 12 October 2016).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.