Archived: Matthias House

The home is registered to provide accommodation and personal care to a maximum of 33 people. On the day of our inspection 27 people lived at the home. People who lived there had a range of conditions the majority of which related to old age.

At our last inspection of 21 December 2015 we determined that medicine management and overall governance required improvement. This inspection we found that improvements had been made. Recording relating to medicines management had improved to show that people had their medicines as they had been prescribed. More frequent audits had been undertaken and we had been notified of the issues we needed to be notified of.

The manager was registered with us. 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.

The staff had been trained and assessed to manage medicines safely. People who lived at the home felt safe. Staff were aware of the processes they should follow to minimise the risk of accidents. Systems were in place to protect people from the risk of harm and abuse. Staffing levels and skill mix ensured that people’s needs would be met.

Staff also felt supported in their job roles on a day to day basis. Staff felt that they were provided with the training that they required to ensure that they had the skills and knowledge to provide safe and appropriate care to people. People received care in line with their best interests and processes were in place to ensure they were not restricted unlawfully. People were happy with the meals offered. People were supported to have a nourishing diet and drinks were offered throughout the day to prevent the risk of dehydration. Health care services were accessed as needed to promote good health.

People and their relatives felt that the staff were caring and helpful. Interactions between staff and the people who lived at the home were positive. People were treated with dignity and their independence was promoted.

Activities for people were offered and encouraged. There were processes in place for people and their families to give their view on the service provided. A complaints system was available for people to use. People and their relatives confirmed that they would use the process if they had the need.

People and staff felt that the quality of service was good. The management of the service was stable. There were processes in place to monitor the quality of the service that identified any issues that needed improvement.

The home is registered to provide accommodation and personal care to a maximum of 33 people. On the day of our inspection 26 people lived at the home. People who lived there had a range of conditions, the majority of which, related to old age.

At our last inspection of January 2014 the provider was meeting all of the regulations that we assessed.

The manager was registered with us. 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.

Although the staff had been trained and assessed to manage medicines safely. Record relating to medicines management had not always been completed fully to show that people had their medicines as they had been prescribed.

The provider was not meeting all legal requirements as they had not notified us of DoLS approvals as they should have done.

There were processes in place to monitor the quality of the service but these had not picked up all of the issues that needed improvement.

People who lived at the home felt safe. Systems were in place to protect people from the risk of harm and abuse.

People were happy with the meals offered. People were supported to have a nourishing diet and drinks were offered throughout the day to prevent the risk of dehydration.

People and their relatives felt that the staff were kind and caring. Interactions between staff and the people who lived at the home were positive. Staff were friendly, polite and helpful to people.

People received care in line with their best interests and processes were in place to ensure they were not restricted unlawfully.

Staff felt that they were provided with the training that they required to ensure that they had the skills and knowledge to provide safe and appropriate care to people. Staff also felt that they were adequately supported in their job roles.

A complaints system was available for people to use. People and their relatives confirmed that they would use the process if they had the need.

People and staff felt that the quality of service was good. The management of the service was stable.

People were treated with dignity and respect. One person said, 'When they give me a bath or a shower they are very patient but they will only do for me what I can't do. I feel that treats me with dignity and maintains my independence.' A relative told us, 'My relative gets more than care she is treated as an individual not just someone who lives here. Staff treat my relative with such love and dignity encouraging their participation and involvement in daily things.'

We saw that people's needs had been assessed by a range of health professionals and people's healthcare needs had been monitored and met. One person said, 'I do like living here, it's very nice warm and comfortable. Staff are very caring and keep me well and safe. If I need a doctor they fetch one.' A relative spoken with told us, 'If a medical professional has been to see my relative staff will inform me of the outcome.'

People were encouraged to eat a healthy and nutritious diet. Most people told us that they had a choice of what to eat and liked the food provided. One person said, 'The food they give me is really nice and tasty, not always much choice though. There are drinks and snacks available all day so I don't get thirsty or hungry.'

People we spoke with had no concerns about the way they were treated by the staff. Effective recruitment and selection procedures were in place and relevant checks had been made on all staff who worked at the home. This ensured that only staff suitable to work with vulnerable adults were employed. Staff had the skills and knowledge to know how to safely support people who lived there to meet their needs.

People were asked for their views about the home and these were listened to. We saw that audits were completed and action was taken to make improvements where needed.

People told us that they were able to change decisions made about their care and that staff asked their consent before providing care and support.

People and their relatives that we spoke with were happy with the care they received at the home and felt that their needs were being met. One person said, 'They do all they can for you. If you want anything they help you. The place is a nice place.' We found that people's needs were being met.

People told us that they were given their medicines as prescribed. We found that the provider had systems in place to ensure people received their medication safely.

People that we spoke with had no concerns about the way they were treated by the staff that cared for them. We found that relevant checks were not available for all staff working at the home.

People told us that they had no complaints about the service. One person told us, 'No complaints. If I want anything I only have to speak with the manager or one of the staff and they will do it.' We found that a system was in place for handling people's complaints.