St Martin's Centre

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 arrangements. 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 11 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service two days notice of the inspection.

Updated 3 March 2022

St Martins Care Centre is registered with CQC as a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service provides residential and nursing care. The service can accommodate up to nine people aged 18 - 25 years of age with physical disabilities and associated learning disabilities. The People are not resident in the home full time and stay for short overnight breaks away from their main home.

There were two registered managers for the service. 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 registered managers, the leadership team and the staff were highly committed and passionate about providing an outstanding standard of care and support that was unique for each person, creative and very personalised. This enthusiasm and commitment was reflected in the excellent outcomes for each person when they stayed at the service.

Medicines were managed safely. Medicines were stored safely and the team were given relevant training so that they knew their responsibilities in relation to the secure and safe management of people's medicines.

People continued to receive a highly effective service. Staff met people’s needs and were well trained and supported in their roles. Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This meant people’s legal rights were fully upheld when they stayed at the service. People were well supported to eat and drink the meals and drinks they enjoyed. Healthy eating options were also encouraged.

The service was caring. The staff were very kind and caring to everyone they supported. This was also reflected in the extremely positive feedback that people, relatives and professionals gave us about how exceptionally caring the service was. People experienced very positive and caring interactions with all the staff team. The team showed they were compassionate and very knowledgeable and insightful about people's unique and very complex needs.

There was a very strong commitment to ensuring people received care based on best practice guidance, with the aim of achieving the best possible outcomes. The management team encouraged people, their relatives and staff to share their opinions and ideas for any improvements that could be made.

The service continued to be exceptionally responsive. This was seen in the way the team demonstrated a total commitment to providing outstanding support, which put people at the centre of everything. People were able to live their life’s as they wanted to and were constantly very well supported to try new activities, events and visit social venues.

The service was well led. This was evidenced in numerous ways. People who stayed at the service benefitted from strong, clear and passionate leadership. The registered managers and senior manager were all passionate about providing person centred care. This ethos was reflected in every aspect of the service. The registered managers, supported by the senior management team, was continuously looking at ways to improve the service even more. These values that were fully embedded into the team were for the clear benefit of the people who stayed at the service.

Staff told us they were proud to work at the service. The team told us both registered managers were very supportive and they were given plenty of opportunities for professional development. The registered managers had developed warm, close very positive working relationships with staff and other stakeholders. The registered managers encouraged and motivated the staff team with regular meetings, formal supervisions and a lot of training. The registered managers were aware of their responsibilities and worked with people who used the service, relatives, staff and the provider. This was to continually improve the quality and safety of care that people received. Quality assurance systems were in place and fully embedded into how the service was run. There was a programme of audits that were highly effective in driving continual improvements to the quality of service.

People stayed in a service that had a very happy, positive and warm atmosphere. Feedback from relatives and health and social care professionals confirmed this highly positive atmosphere was a constant aspect of the high standard of care and service people received.

People were protected from the risk form unsuitable staff because the recruitment procedures ensured that appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out. This was to try to ensure only suitable staff worked at the service. People were supported by enough staff with whom they had developed close and very positive relationships.

The premises had been purpose built and offered excellent well-maintained facilities that supported safety and quality in the care that people received.All bedrooms had very high quality facilities available, which included a mix of ensuite facilities, including television and internet access .

Staff continuously went beyond expectations to ensure that people received an exceptionally individualised service that was flexible and responsive to their needs. Staff and carers respected each person’s individuality. People were empowered to express their wishes and opinions and make their own choices.