MillerHouse Residential Care Home

Updated 15 February 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

We visited MillerHouse on 19 and 20 December 2018 to carry out an unannounced comprehensive inspection. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector and on the first day, a dental inspector.

This service was selected to be part of our national review, looking at the quality of oral health care support for people living in care homes. The inspection team included a dental inspector who looked in detail at how well the service supported people with their oral health. This included support with oral hygiene and access to dentists. We will publish our national report of our findings and recommendations in 2019.

Before the inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service, including notifications and previous inspection reports. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We contacted the local authority contract monitoring team and the local authority safeguarding team. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. 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 used all this information to decide which areas to focus on during the inspection

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service. During the inspection, we talked with five people who used the service and a relative. We talked with three support workers, the registered manager, deputy manager and administrator. We looked around the service and reviewed a sample of records, including three care plans and other related care documentation, two staff recruitment records, complaints records, meeting records, policies and procedures, quality assurance records and audits.

Updated 15 February 2019

We carried out an announced inspection of MillerHouse Residential Care Home on 19 and 20 December 2018.

MillerHouse Residential Care Home (referred to in this report as MillerHouse) is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to six adults with mental health conditions. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided and both were looked at during this inspection. Nursing care is not provided.

The service is located in the centre of Crawshawbooth village. Shops and services are a short distance away and transport links available nearby. MillerHouse is a mid-terraced house, there are two shared and two single bedrooms and communal lounge and dining area. At the time of our inspection, five people were using the service.

At the last inspection, the service was rated overall Good.

At this inspection, we found there was evidence support the continued overall rating of Good. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns.

However, we found some shortfalls with person centred care planning therefore we have made a recommendation to make improvements. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

We found there were good management and leadership arrangements in place to support the effective day to day running of the service.

Arrangements were in place to ensure staff were properly checked before working at the service.

There were sufficient numbers of staff at the service, to provide support in response to people’s needs and choices.

Safe processes were in place to support people with their medicines.

Risks to people’s well-being and safety were being assessed and managed. We found some progress could be made risks assessments and action was taken to make improvements.

Staff were aware of abuse and adults at risk, they knew what to do if they had any concerns. Managers and staff had received training on safeguarding and protection matters.

Staff received ongoing learning, development and supervision.

Arrangements were in place to gather information on people’s backgrounds, their needs, abilities, and choices before they used the service.

People made some positive comments about the staff team and the support they received. We saw positive and respectful interactions between people using the service and staff.

Each person had care records, describing their needs and preference. These needed to provide clearer information on people’s needs and goals, and how staff should provide support.

People’s independence, privacy, dignity, individuality and choices was promoted. People were supported to engage in meaningful activities the community.

Processes were in place to support people with any concerns or complaints.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Policies and processes at the service supported this practice.

People were supported with their healthcare needs and medical appointments. Changes in people’s health and well-being were monitored and responded to.

Arrangements were in place as appropriate, to support people with a healthy, balanced diet.

There were systems in place to consult with people who used the service, to assess and monitor their experiences.

Checks on quality and safety were carried out. We were told these would be developed to make sure the service keeps improving.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.