Background to this inspection
Updated
19 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 took place on 11 January 2019 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by one adult social care inspector.
Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR and other information we held about the service. This included feedback from the local authority and past reports and notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.
During the inspection we spoke with two people who used the service, four staff members and the registered manager. We looked at three care records and medicine administration records. We reviewed two staff members' recruitment, training and supervision records. We also checked records relating to the management of the service including quality audits.
Updated
19 February 2019
We carried out an unannounced inspection of Alfred Minto House on 11 January 2019. Alfred Minto House is a three-storey care home which provides care and support for up to 10 adult men with support needs associated with mental health. The aim of the service is to support people to become more independent and transition from hospital to independent living. At the time of this inspection there were eight people living at the service. At the last inspection in May 2016 the service was rated Good.
At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of 'Good' and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service is required to have a registered manager and at the time of our inspection a registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Effective recruitment procedures helped to make sure staff had the required skills and were of suitable character and background. There were enough staff available to meet the needs of people living at the home at the time of our inspection.
Staff understood what it meant to protect people from abuse. They were confident any concerns they raised would be acted upon by the management team.
Care and support was planned and delivered in a way that ensured people were safe. People had been involved in planning their care. Support plans clearly outlined peoples' needs and any risks associated with their care, as well as their abilities and preferences.
People's medicines were managed and administered in line with best practice and staff had received medicines training and their competency had been assessed.
An effective induction and an ongoing training programme ensured staff had the right skills and knowledge to fulfil their role. Staff were supported through regular supervision and annual appraisal.
People were supported to maintain good health and have access to health and social care services. People were also supported to maintain a balanced diet that met their individual needs and choices.
Staff consistently put people at the heart of everything they did. Staff were clear they worked as a team and for the benefit of people living at Alfred Minto House. Staff provided enthusiastic and individualised support to people. People spoke highly of the support they received and were motivated to achieve their goals with positive staff input. People were supported by caring and compassionate staff who respected their privacy, dignity, preferences and independence.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.
Individualised social activities and events were promoted and available for people to take part in, if they wished to.
People were able to raise concerns or complaints and were asked for feedback about the service they received.
The service had a strong leadership presence with a registered manager and deputy manager who had a clear vision about the direction of the service and were spoken of highly by staff and people who used the service.
Regular quality systems were used to raise standards and achieve positive care and facilities for everybody living and working at the home.
The service understood their legal responsibilities for reporting and sharing information with other services.