1 December 2015
During a routine inspection
Mountfitchet House is registered to provide accommodation for up to 60 people who require nursing and personal care. At the time of our inspection there were 42 people living at the service. The service is located in the town of Mountfitchet close to local shops, amenities and facilities. Off road parking is provided as well as accessible premises for people, staff and visitors. Access to the accommodation is provided by stairs or a passenger lift to all floors of the purpose built two storey building. There are four individual units and a total of 60 single occupancy rooms with en suite wet room facilities. Bathing facilities are available for people with this preference.
This was the first inspection of this service since it first registered in October 2014. This unannounced inspection took place on 1 December 2015.
The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.
Staff were only employed at the service once all appropriate checks had been completed. These checks helped the provider determine staff’s suitability for either a nursing or care role working with people living in the service. There were a sufficient number of suitably experienced staff working at the service. An effective induction process was in place to support new staff including nurses. This included an assessment of staff’s overall suitability for their chosen role.
Staff with medicines administration responsibilities supported people to take their prescribed medicines safely. Staff received regular medicines administration training and an assessment of their competency to do this safely. Staff knew the reporting procedures for any concerns they had, or may have had, about people’s safety.
The CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. The registered manager and staff were knowledgeable about when an assessment of people’s mental capacity was required. They had determined people’s lack of mental capacity and applications had been made to, and acknowledged by, the local authority. This was to lawfully deprive some people of their liberty in a lawful way. People’s care was provided where it was in their best interests.
Staff understood and were attentive to people’s needs and supported people in a compassionate manner. Staff knew what was meaningful and important to people. People’s privacy and dignity was respected by staff who ensured they had gained permission to enter people’s rooms.
People were involved in planning their care. People’s care plans and records were regularly reviewed and updated accordingly. The registered manager provided people with information on accessing independent advocacy if any person required this support.
People were supported with their health care needs. This was by the most appropriate, or a combination of, health care professionals such as speech and language therapist or GP. Health care professional advice was adhered to by staff. Prompt action was taken in response to the people’s changing health care needs. Up-to-date risk assessments to help safely support people with risk to their health were in place and these were kept under review according to each person’s needs.
People were supported to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. This was with sufficient quantities of food, drinks and snacks for people to access whenever they wanted. This included those people at an increased risk of malnutrition, dehydration or weight loss. Pureed and soft food diets and choices were available and provided.
People were given various opportunities to make key suggestions about any aspects of their care they wanted to make changes to. Staff responded promptly to and recognised when a person was concerned about issues which affected their day-to-day life at the service.
A range of effective audit and quality assurance procedures were in place. These were used as a means of identifying areas for improvement and also where good practice had been established. Information was shared through a range of forums including residents’, managers’ and staff meetings.
Staff were supported with their personal development by managers who kept themselves aware of the day to culture in the service. The registered manager supported staff as well as engaging with people on a day to day basis.