This inspection took place on 23 March 2016 and was unannounced.Mistley Manor is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 66 people. On the day of our inspection there were 48 people living in the service. The accommodation was located over three floors. The third floor had four suites which could accommodate two people in each to be used for couples wishing to receive care and support while living together. The service had an onsite licensed bar and a cinema.
The service had two registered managers. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
During our previous inspection on 20 October 2015 we found that this service had breached our regulations in some areas and we carried out this inspection to check that they had carried out the work required to improve the quality of the service as set out in their action plan to bring the service within regulation.
During that previous inspection there were concerns in several areas, including concerns that arrangements for gaining people’s consent under the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were not being met effectively. That there were not enough staff on duty to keep people safe and concerns that some people did not get medicines at their preferred time of day or when they were required.
During this inspection we found that the service had taken the necessary action and was offering a good service overall.
Staff had received the training they needed to understand how to meet people’s needs. They understood the importance of gaining consent from people before delivering their care or treatment. Where people were not able to give informed consent, staff and the manager ensured their rights were protected.
There were enough staff to support people safely and they were clear about their roles. Recruitment practices were robust in contributing to protecting people from staff who were unsuitable to work within the care profession.
Staff knew what to do if they suspected someone may be being abused or harmed. Recruitment practices were robust and contributed to protecting people from staff who were unsuitable to work in care. There were enough staff to support people safely and they were clear about their roles.
Records showed that staff had received training to perform their role.
Medicines were managed and stored properly and safely so that people received them as the prescriber intended.
People had enough to eat and drink to meet their needs and were able to eat in comfortable and attractive surroundings. The service had a restaurant on the ground floor and people were served the meal of their choice by waiters. Non-alcoholic drinks were available or people were able have a drink from the licenced bar with their meal if they wanted. Staff assisted or prompted people with meals and fluids if they needed support.
Staff treated people with warmth and compassion. They were respectful of people’s privacy and dignity and offered comfort and reassurance when people were distressed or unsettled. Staff also made sure that people who were becoming unwell were referred promptly to healthcare professionals for treatment and advice about their health and welfare.
Staff showed commitment to understanding and responding to each person’s needs and preferences so that they could engage meaningfully with people. Outings and outside entertainment was offered to people and staff offered activities on a daily basis.
Staff understood the importance of responding to and resolving concerns quickly if they were able to do so. Staff also ensured that more serious complaints were passed on to the management team for investigation. People and their representatives told us that they were confident that any complaints they made would be addressed by one of the managers.
The service had consistent leadership. The staff told us that the managers were supportive and accessible if they wanted to talk with them. The management team were responsible for monitoring the quality and safety of the service. There was an effective audit system in place.
The providers told us that they visited the service several times a week to check that the quality of the service was maintained and spoke with people who used the service to pass time and to give them the opportunity give their view of the way the service was managed.
People were also given the opportunity to voice their views about the service on the organisation's website and in an annual survey; we saw that there were many positive comments recorded.