12 July 2019
During a routine inspection
Mill House is a residential care home providing personal care for up to four people with learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection, there were three people living at the home.
The service has 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Upon taking over the service, the provider taken steps to identify and address significant risks to people’s health and safety at the home. However, their quality assurance systems and processes had not enabled them to fully responded to identified risks associated with the fire and electrical safety of the premises. These risks had been highlighted through an independent electrical inspection and fire risk assessment commissioned on the premises, and inspections by the provider’s health and safety manager. Some essential works had been done, but others were being negotiated with the owners of the property. Although we found no evidence people had been harmed, this placed people at an increased risk of harm.
Staff understood how to identify and report any abuse involving the people who lived at the home. The risks associated with people’s individual care and health needs had been assessed, recorded and addressed. The provider adhered to safe recruitment practices. Staffing levels at the home enabled people’s care needs to be met safely. The provider monitored any accidents or incidents involving the people who lived at the home. People were protected from the risk of infections.
People’s individual needs were assessed and kept under review, in order to meet these effectively. Staff had ongoing training and good management support to enable them to succeed in their roles. People had enough to eat and drink and were supported to make choices about their meals. Staff worked effectively with a range of community health and social care professionals to achieve positive outcomes for people. 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.
Staff supported people in a caring and compassionate manner. People were encouraged to express their views about the care they received. People were treated with dignity and respect at all times.
People’s care plans were individual to them, and were read and followed by staff. People had support to participate in a range of social and recreational activities they enjoyed. People knew how to raise any concerns about their care. People’s wishes and choices about their end of life care were explored with them, in order that these could be addressed at the appropriate time.
The provider and registered manager promoted a positive and inclusive culture within the service, based upon open communication with others. Staff felt valued and well-supported in their work.
Staff understood the need to promote equality and diversity in their work and consider people’s protected characteristics.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 25 August 2016). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the change in registered provider of the service.
Enforcement
We have identified a breach in relation to the safety of the premises where people lived at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
Follow up
We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of safety. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.