Mather Fold House

Updated 27 November 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of the Care Quality Commission's response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

We received information of concern about infection control and prevention measures at this service. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 11 November 2020 and was unannounced.

Updated 27 November 2020

About the service

Mather Fold House is a residential home providing accommodation for up to six people with autism, learning disabilities and complex needs. At the time of our visit six people lived at the home. There was one house for four people and two single person units attached to the house.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were protected from the risk of abuse and avoidable harm. Relatives told us they were confident people were safe in the home and staff understood how to support people manage risks. Staff were well supported to understand and manage risks and felt safe when supporting people. People's medicines were managed safely.

People's needs had been thoroughly assessed and plans of care developed which helped ensure their needs were met effectively. Staff had received training and support to ensure they had the appropriate skills and knowledge to support people achieve good outcomes. People were supported to meet their health needs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control in their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.

People were supported by kind and compassionate staff who were committed to understanding and supporting people. People were supported respectfully in ways which upheld their dignity. People's communication needs were assessed in detail which helped ensure they were able to express their views.

People received person-centred care which reflected their needs and preferences. The provider had made a marked effort to understand how people experienced the world around them and used this information to update plans of care and develop activities. Relatives told us they had seen significant improvements in people's quality of life. People's concerns had been responded to and relatives told us they were content with any issues they had raised.

The service was well-led. The manager demonstrated good leadership which had helped staff to develop their skills and confidence. The manager followed good governance systems which helped ensure the quality of both care practice and record keeping was maintained. Relatives commented on the improvements achieved and told us they were confident this had been sustained.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at the last inspection

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement, published (07 February 2019) with a breach of regulations in relation to the safe management of medicines. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on our previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.