Meyrick Cottage

Updated 3 March 2022

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 CQC's response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangement. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 2 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours notice of the inspection.

Updated 3 March 2022

About the service

Meyrick Cottage is a care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to six people diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders and learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection there were two people living at the home.

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 the service:

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People’s support focussed on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People told us they enjoyed living at Meyrick Cottage. They told us they felt safe living at Meyrick Cottage and liked the staff who knew them well and provided their support and care with kindness, patience, respect and dignity. Relatives told us they found the staff to be kind, friendly, supportive and professional.

Staff understood how to identify and report abuse and were well supported in their roles. Staff received regular supervision meetings and a variety of training courses to enable them to carry out their roles competently.

Risks to people’s health, safety and well being were regularly assessed, reviewed and updated. People and their families were fully included and involved in their care and support. People's views and opinions were listened to and acted upon wherever possible.

People’s health care needs were met and staff supported them to see healthcare professionals when appropriate. Medicines were managed, stored and administered safely. People were supported to take their medicines safely by staff who had received the appropriate levels of training.

People were supported by safely recruited staff and there were enough appropriately trained and experienced staff to support people in ways that suited them. Communication styles and methods were tailored to individual people and staff supported people to understand the choices available to them.

Staff felt well supported by the management team and their colleagues. Staff received regular supervision sessions that were conducted in a supportive and positive way which enabled staff to develop within their respective roles. Staff spoke positively of the training they received which they said was effective, well delivered and tailored to the needs of the people living at Meyrick Cottage.

People were supported to cook some meals for themselves which encouraged and maintained their independence. People received healthy, nutritious meals which they enjoyed planning and preparing. Meal times were a social occasion where people could choose to spend time with others or in their bedrooms if they preferred.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The premises were well maintained and kept in a clean and safe condition. People had personalised bedrooms which they spoke proudly about and told us they found comfortable.

People led busy, active lives and were encouraged and enabled to pursue hobbies and get involved in activities in the wider community. A variety of in- house activities were provided based on people’s interests and choices

The service worked collaboratively and closely with health care professionals to ensure people received the best care and support at all times.

There was a complaints policy in both a text and pictorial format which gave clear guidance for all people. People and relatives told us they knew how to make a complaint if the needed to and felt any concerns would be taken seriously and action taken straight away.

There was a clear management structure and people, relatives and staff spoke highly of the registered manager who ensured there was an open, supportive, friendly, professional culture at the home.

There were robust quality assurance systems in place to drive improvement and ensure the home offered a safe, effective, caring and responsive service.

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on June 2018 and this was the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was the first scheduled inspection. We look to inspect services within 12 months of them registering with us.

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

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