Millgate House

Updated 8 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.

This inspection was conducted on 15 and 16 January 2019.

Inspection team: This inspection was conducted by one adult social care inspector.

On the first day of the inspection the inspector visited the home and saw the office, communal areas, bedroom and bathroom facilities. On the second day, the same inspector contacted relatives and healthcare professionals by telephone to seek their feedback on their experience of the service.

Service and service type: The service was a care home without nursing and it also provided care and support to one person living in their own home in the community.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection: The first day of the inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours notice of the inspection as it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager was available at the office.

What we did: Our plan took into account information the provider sent us since the last inspection. We also considered information about matters the provider must notify us about, such as events involving injury. We obtained information from the local authority commissioners and safeguarding team and other professionals who work with the service. We also looked at the Provider Information Return (PIR). 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 plan our inspection.

During the inspection, we spoke with two relatives of people who used the service and two healthcare professionals about their experience of the care provided. Due to most people living with learning disabilities, it was not possible to get a verbal response to our questions.

We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, senior team leader and two care staff members. We looked at two people's care records and a selection of medicines and medicines administration records (MARs). We looked at other records including quality monitoring records, two staff recruitment records, training records and records of checks carried out on the premises and equipment.

Details are in the key questions below.

Updated 8 February 2019

Millgate House is part of an organisation that is a registered charity. It is a care home without nursing care that can accommodate eight young adults with learning and physical disabilities on a short term basis. It is also registered to provide personal care to a person with disabilities living in the community in their own home. Millgate House is situated in the village of Whitworth between Bacup and Rochdale. The service is registered to care for up to eight people. At the time of the inspection three people were using the service.

People’s experience of using this service:

• The service met the characteristics of 'Good' in all of the five key questions.

• Staff were recruited safely but we noted in one case the need to improve some pre-recruitment checks.

• Although the service was following the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, we have made a recommendation around the need to complete documented capacity and consent records.

• We have made a further recommendation in relation to the management of checks and audits so that they are effective in picking up some of the issues seen at the inspection.

• Risks to people’s health and safety were managed safely.

• Care records were up to date and reflected people’s current health care needs.

• People who used the service could not tell us of their experiences but their relatives told us that their loved ones were looked after and were happy with the care and support that was provided.

• People were protected against abuse, neglect and discrimination through good safeguarding processes.

• Staff we spoke with were positive about their roles and wanted to do the best for people.

• Staff we spoke with knew people well. They had developed good relationships with people.

• People who used the service clearly enjoyed the presence and attention from staff.

• More information is contained in the full report.

Rating at last inspection: At our last inspection the service was rated good overall. Our last report was published on 6 July 2016.

Why we inspected: This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.