Maeres House

Updated 5 January 2018

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.

The inspection was carried out on 6 December 2017 by one adult social care inspector. The inspection was unannounced.

During our inspection we observed care and support offered by staff to people within the communal areas of the service. We spoke to two people supported by the service, two support workers and the registered manager. We looked at the environment, medicines management systems as well as policies and procedures. We looked at two people’s care plan files, three staff recruitment and training files and other records relating to the management of the service.

Before the inspection the provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We also reviewed the information that we held about the service. This included any notifications received from the registered manager, safeguarding referrals, concerns about the service and other information from members of the public. We contacted the local authority quality monitoring team and safeguarding team who told us they had no immediate concerns regarding the service.

Updated 5 January 2018

Maeres House is a purpose-built building that provides accommodation for up to 8 people with an acquired brain injury including those that have complex physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were five people living at the service.

The inspection took place on 6 December 2017 and was unannounced. The previous inspection took place on 14 August 2015 and the service was rated overall good.

The service remained rated as good.

There continued to be sufficient staff to meet the needs of the people supported. Safe recruitment procedures were in place and staff had the required skills and knowledge to support people with their individual needs.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of safeguarding and had all received training. They were clear about the procedures they would follow to raise any concerns they had.

Staff at completed all mandatory training for their role and regular training refreshers took place. Staff had all completed acquired brain injury training.

People’s needs were assessed prior to using the service and were fully included in the development of the care plans and risk assessments. People were included in the review process which took place regularly.

People’s dietary needs were assessed and fully met. People’s health needs were supported and fully recorded.

Medicine management systems in place were robust and undertaken by trained staff who had their competency assessed. This ensured people received their medicines safely.

People participated in activities of their choice and these included social events and holidays.

The registered provider had documents available in accessible formats that included easy read and pictorial to meet the communication needs of individual people supported.

A complaints policy and procedure was readily available for people and their relatives. They told us they felt confident about raising a complaint and thought any concerns would be listened and responded to promptly.

The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and to report on what we find. We saw that the registered provider had policies and guidance in place for staff in relation to the MCA. Staff demonstrated a basic understanding of this and had received training.

The management team had quality monitoring systems in place that were used for development and improvements. Audit systems were regularly undertaken as part of the organisations governance process.