• Care Home
  • Care home

Middleton St George Healthcare Limited

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

24 Station Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 6SU (01325) 242810

Provided and run by:
Middleton St George Healthcare Limited

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 11 February 2023

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

One inspector carried out the inspection. An Expert by Experience made telephone calls to relatives. 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

Middleton St George Healthcare limited is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Middleton St George Health Limited is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 10 January 2023 and ended on 23 January 2023. We visited the location’s service on 10 January 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority, professionals who work with the service and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 1 person who used the service and 1 relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 3 members of staff including the registered manager and 2 care assistants.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 people's care records and medicine records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, were reviewed.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 11 February 2023

About the service

Middleton St George Healthcare Limited is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 3 people. The service provides support to younger adults with mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection there were 3 people using the service.

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

Medicines were managed safely. Infection prevention and control processes protected people from the risk of infections. People told us they felt safe. The staff team were consistent and had a good understanding of how to care for people who lived at the service. Risks to people were assessed and measures were put in place to reduce them.

Staff received regular training, supervisions and appraisals. People were supported to maintain good health and well-being. They were encouraged to maintain a balanced diet and their nutritional needs were met. The environment was adapted to meet people's needs and staff supported people to access health services where needed.

People's care was personalised. Staff knew people's needs, life histories and preferences well. People told us staff were caring and spoke positively about living at the home.

Care plans were regularly reviewed, and staff could access relevant information to ensure they continued to provide the support people needed. People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities.

There were effective systems in place to monitor the quality and standard of the service. People and staff were asked regularly for their feedback. The registered manager was passionate about ensuring people were at the heart of everything they did. Staff felt supported and spoke positively about the registered manager.

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 19 October 2017).

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home 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.