Miltoun House

Updated 24 June 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience carried out this inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in two ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short notice period of the inspection because we needed to speak to people. Inspection activity started on 17 May 2022 and ended on 7 June 2022. We visited the location’s office/service on 17 May 2022.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from Redcar and Cleveland local authority and professionals who work with the service, such as the fire service and NHS infection prevention and control team. We used all this information to plan our inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with 13 people who used the service, five relatives and one friend to capture their views about the care provided. We spoke to a social worker who provided feedback about how staff supported one person with complex needs. We also spoke with seven staff including the regional operations manager, the registered manager, a team leader and four support workers.

We reviewed three people’s care records and two people’s medicine administration records. We reviewed three staff records in relation to recruitment, induction, supervision and appraisal. We also reviewed records relating to the running of the service, including the provider’s policies.

Updated 24 June 2022

Miltoun House is a supported living service which provides personal care across two locations in Guisborough. Staff were onsite at these two locations over a 24-hour period. People had access to their own bedrooms, shared kitchen and living room facilities. People who used the service lived with a mental health condition and / or a learning disability. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people using the service.

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

People told us they felt safe living at the service and were supported by staff who were always available to them. Staff worked quickly to implement risk management plans when people experienced deterioration in their health to minimise the overall impact of harm to people.

Staff had the right skills and experience to deliver person-centred care to people. Staff received appropriate support and training to do this. Professionals were complimentary about the way staff worked with people to maintain their well-being.

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.

People were treated with kindness and compassion and this had led to them feeling valued. People were supported to make decisions about their own care. Their communication needs were clearly outlined in their care records. Staff respected people’s diverse needs and supported them to live their lives in the way they wanted.

Staff knew people really well. This meant they were able to support people in line with their needs, wishes and preferences. People were encouraged to be independent and be involved with all aspects of their care. People were supported to maintain their social contact with relatives, friends and with organisations in the local community.

Quality assurance systems were effective in delivering a good service which supported people with mental health conditions to live fulfilled lives and led to good outcomes. The staff team worked well together to provide a good service; they were responsive to change and willing to take on board new ideas to support improvement.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 10 October 2020 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 12 February 2020.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection of a new service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.