9 January 2017
During a routine inspection
St Marys View provides residential care for up to 10 people with learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were eight people living at the service.
The home had a registered manager. 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.
Action had been taken to deal with the health and safety related issues we identified during our last inspection. This included replacing the rotting fire escape and removing an unsafe shower tray. The provider’s representative was carrying out regular quality assurance visits and a record kept of their findings.
People gave us consistently positive feedback about their care. They told us they were well cared for and that care workers were kind and considerate. People also said they were supported to be independent and to make their own choices and decisions.
Where potential risks to people’s safety had been identified, a specific risk assessment was carried out to help keep them safe.
Medicine records supported the safe administration of medicines. People received their medicines from trained care workers. There was no on-going system in place to monitor the competency of care workers to administer medicines. We have made a recommendation about this. The provider kept accurate medicines records to account for the medicines people had received and to show medicines were stored appropriately.
There were sufficient care workers deployed within the home. People confirmed care workers provided timely help and support if needed. The provider completed a range of checks to help ensure new care workers were suitable to work with the people living at the home. This included disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks.
The provider carried out regular health and safety checks, such as checks of fire safety, the electrical installation, gas safety, water temperatures and portable appliance testing. Incidents and accidents were logged and fully investigated.
Care workers said received good support and had regular one to one supervision. Records confirmed care workers had completed training relevant to their role, such as moving and assisting, nutrition, first aid, fire safety, and infection control.
The provider followed the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), including the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). DoLS authorisations were in place for two people using the service.
People had access to a range of health professionals, such as GPs, opticians, chiropodists, community nurses and hospital consultants.
People told us they were happy with their care but also knew how to complain if required. There had been no complaints made about the home since we last inspected.
Care records included background information about each person including details of their care preferences. People’s needs had been assessed and personalised care plans written. Care plans were evaluated monthly to keep them up to date. People had goals to work towards and progress towards achieving goals was measured periodically.
People could share their views about the service through attending a regular residents’ meeting or taking part in surveys. Residents’ meetings were well attended and were used to discuss safety and gather people’s views about the meals and activities provided in the home.
Following our last inspection the provider was carrying out regular quality assurance checks of the home and a record kept of the findings.