We carried out a review of the data available to us about MacIntyre Welsh Marches on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about MacIntyre Welsh Marches, you can give feedback on this service.
MacIntyre Welsh Marches is a supported living service providing personal care to people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder living in their own home. At the time of our inspection there were 21 people receiving this type of care and support, living within 11 separate houses.
Between two and four people lived in each house. Each person had their own bedroom and shared the kitchen and living space with their housemates.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
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 was appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Everybody felt they received an excellent service. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support. Communication within the service was excellent at all levels and encouraged mutual respect between staff and people. People received exceptionally responsive care. Staff worked with people and relatives to find out people’s interests and needs so they could provide person-centred care. Staff developed people's daily living skills to boost their confidence and supported them where possible towards independent living.
There was a truly holistic approach to assessing, planning and delivering care and support. People’s wishes and choices were recognised and valued. They received excellent support to achieve a full and satisfying way of life. People were at the heart of the service, which was organised to suit their individual needs and aspirations.
We received positive feedback from partner agencies about the management of the service and the dedication of the staff. The registered manager demonstrated a strong and supportive leadership style, seeking feedback to further improve the care and support provided. The registered manager and staff team used innovative, but safe practices to develop people's independence and create a vibrant, happy and thriving community. The values of the organisation of offering choice, inclusion and respect were embedded. This supported people to receive the positive service described.
Staff were well trained and skilled. They worked with people to overcome challenges and promote their independence in every area of their life. Staff encouraged positive risk taking so people could experience new things and develop. This had led to people feeling fulfilled and living an active life.
Feedback from health and social care professionals was positive about the support given by staff. They said staff were proactive in managing people's behaviours and needs.
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 10 December 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the 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.
The inspection of this service took place on 19 an 20 September 2016 and was announced.
There was a registered manager in post and they were present at the time of the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, registered managers 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.
People were supported by staff who knew how to keep them safe and free from harm. Staff knew how to recognise and report any risks, problems or potential signs of abuse.
People were supported to live independent lives. Risks were assessed prior to activities taking place with people’s full involvement. Guidelines were in place to help people learn new skills safely. Regular reviews ensured risks were updated as people achieved their goals.
People who required support to take their medicines were protected by safe systems in place for administering, storing and recording medicines. Training was in place to enable staff to safely support people when required.
Overall people were supported by sufficient staff to meet their needs safely and effectively. However recruitment was problematic in one geographical area and this had impacted on the quality of life for one person who used the service. Staff were recruited through safe recruitment practices meaning that only people suitable to work in the role were appointed.
People were supported by staff who had the knowledge and skills to provide effective support. Staff received excellent training opportunities and training had been developed around the individual needs of the people who used the service.
Staff understood their roles and responsibilities and worked well as a team to ensure people’s needs were met. People’s rights were protected under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and staff understood how to protect people’s human rights. People were supported to make choices as to how they lived their lives and staff recognised the importance of people having the right information and support to enable them to make their own decisions
People received support to ensure they enjoyed a balanced and nutritious diet. Staff worked with healthcare professionals to promote people’s good health.
People were supported by staff who were caring and kind. Staff understood the importance of delivering person centre care that promoted and developed people’s independence. People’s privacy and dignity was respected. People were supported to maintain and develop positive relationships with people who were important to them.
People received a responsive service that was centred on their individual needs, preferences, likes and hobbies. People were supported to learn new life skills and enjoy active social lives.
People told us they were able to raise concerns and felt these would be acted on by the registered manager. The provider had an effective procedure in place to manage complaints.
People who used the service, and their relatives, had a good working relationship with the registered manager, who provided positive leadership. People were regularly asked if they were happy with the service provided. There were systems in place to ensure people’s views and opinions were heard and their wishes acted upon. Surveys, questionnaires and audits all demonstrated that the service delivered support that was centred on people’s individualised care and support needs.
Many of the people who used this service were unable to communicate verbally. We were able to talk with some people who gave us their views on their care and some of their relatives.
We found that the service had a robust recruitment process. The process ensured that they only employed staff who were fit to work with vulnerable people. Staff told us they had training in safeguarding people from abuse as part of their induction training.
We saw and were told that staff were always available when people needed help.
The provider had developed a system whereby they could monitor how well the home was meeting the needs of the people who lived there.
A relative told us that the staff 'really make an effort to understand' the person using the service.
Care plans were detailed and gave staff the information they needed to provide support for people. People had contributed to their care plans and records showed that their views were respected and acted upon. People were supported to be as independent as possible and to participate in the local community.
Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the people they cared for and were familiar with their likes and dislikes.
We found that appropriate checks were properly carried out on staff before they were allowed to start work. People using the service were also asked for their opinion on the staff caring for them.