All inspections: MCCH Society Limited - 1-3 Emerton Close

This unannounced inspection took place on 10 and 11 September 2015. At the last inspection on 05 November 2013, the service met all the regulations that we inspected.

Emerton Close provides personal care and support for up to 10 adults who have a range of needs including learning disabilities. There were 10 people receiving personal care and support at the time of our inspection.

There was no registered manager 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People’s relatives said they felt safe and staff treated their family members well. We observed that people looked happy and relaxed. There were clear procedures in place to recognise and respond to abuse and staff had been trained in how to follow these. Risk assessments were in place and reflected current risks for people who used the service and ways to try and reduce the risk from happening. Appropriate arrangements for the management of people’s medicines were not in place. Staff received training in administering medicines.

The manager and staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and acted according to this legislation.

Staff received an induction and further training to help them undertake their role. However, most of the staff had not received regular supervision and annual appraisal in line with the provider’s policy. People received enough to eat and drink and their preferences were taken into account.

Staff knew people’s needs well and treated them in a kind and dignified manner. People’s relatives told us their family members were happy and well looked after. They felt confident they could share any concerns and these would be acted upon. Staff were able to respond to people’s communication needs and provided appropriate support to those who required assistance with their meals.

People’s care and support needs were regularly reviewed to make sure they received the right care and support.

There was a positive culture at the service where people felt included and consulted. Relatives commented positively about the management of the service. Some aspects of the quality monitoring and audits system were not effective. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisation was not notified to CQC as required by law

We found three breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) regulations 2014.You can see what action we took at the back of the full version of this report.

The ten people at Emerton Close lived in one of the three bungalows and each had its own facilities and staffing. People had profound learning and physical disabilities, sensory impairment and complex needs and were fully dependent on the staff. We observed during our inspection that people were treated with patience and respect.

We found that people had risk and personalised capacity assessments as part of their care planning. Best Interest meetings involving the multidisciplinary team were held to make decisions about changes in peoples care. Relatives we spoke to told us they were engaged in meetings to review changes to care. Staff told us that people were involved in decisions' related to the service as much as possible, for example people were given choices about the time they got up in the morning.

Staff had been trained in safeguarding and the four staff we spoke to demonstrated a good knowledge of how to respond to any allegations of abuse. A safeguarding policy was in place and accessible to staff.

We found that staff were supported by regular one to one supervision and appraisals. Staff told us that they had good access to training and development. Staff development plans took into account the needs of people in the home for example staff training had been commissioned to take into account the need for enteral feeding.

The provider had records management systems in place and records were stored and retained appropriately

People living at Emerton Close experienced varying levels of difficulties expressing their views due to having learning disabilities. We observed that people were treated with patience and respect during our visit. We found that people's needs were met. Staff told us that they enjoyed working at Emerton Close.

These older reports are from our old approaches to inspection, including those from before CQC was created.

Archived: MCCH Society Limited - 1-3 Emerton Close

All Inspections

10 & 11 September 2015

During a routine inspection

5 November 2013

During a routine inspection

2 January 2013

During a routine inspection

Reports under our old system of regulation