- Independent mental health service
St Martha's
Assessment report published 23 September 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
St Martha’s is a residential care home providing accommodation for people who require nursing or personal care for up to 41 people. Accommodation is provided over 2 nursing units, Tulip and Daisy and a “swing” unit, Iris. The service supports people with mental ill-health and people living with dementia. At the time of the inspection the service was providing support to 35 people.
The service is located on the upper floors of a building also housing wards for people requiring support with mental ill-health. The units contained ensuite bedrooms and communal dining and living rooms, with kitchens that were locked. Daisy Unit specialises in providing care to people who live with dementia. The “swing” unit, Iris, had a number of rooms laid out as studio flats which could be occupied by those requiring accommodation for nursing or personal care, or who are supported to live more independently from the ward setting. Primarily the service supports people who are moving from the ward setting as part of their recovery but also supports those moving from their own home or other services in the community, who need additional support.
This was the first inspection of this aspect of the service since the service commenced. On this inspection we reviewed a limited number of quality statements, which meant the nursing home aspect of the service has not yet been rated.
We found the service was assessing and managing risks to people and ensuring they were safe. People living at the service had a variety of support needs, and staff were skilled in providing pro-active, person-centred care. People’s transition into the service, and support from other professionals involved in their care was well managed. There was a clear pathway for people to move to the service, and to seek further care and support within the ward environment, if needed.
Although some environmental adaptations were made at Daisy Unit, the environment was not fully adapted to meet the needs of those with dementia, or to promote independence. Not all people’s rooms were adapted to their preferences and some appeared clinical,. Some communal areas of the environment in the Tulip unit were over-stimulating with loud sounds, such as banging doors, alarms, TV and radios as well as strong aromatherapy smells, and areas which were extremely warm. This can cause increased agitation, particularly for those who are unable to express discomfort.
People were supported to make decisions about their care and support. We observed staff were responsive to people and gave them choices. Staff were patient with people and supported them to meet their needs.
Medicines were stored, administered and managed safely, and there were clear plans in place for the use of medicines to support people’s anxiety and agitation. There was guidance around use of covert medicines. Although records did not reflect that decisions were made for each medicine individually, the manager agreed to take action with the GP to resolve this.
There were robust governance processes and oversight of care being provided, including audits and supervision of staff. Staff fed back positively about the manager of the service and felt able to speak up.
People's experience of this service
People received care which was person-centred, attentive and caring. We observed staff were kind, patient and responsive to people’s needs. Staff were quick to react and support people when they were distressed. We saw people were comfortable talking openly with staff about their needs, and were able to ask if they wanted or needed something. Staff were aware of people’s non-verbal cues and quickly acted to meet their needs.
People fed back positively about the staff team. A person said, “The staff are good and kind, They help me complete my tasks.” One person told us, “[I am] very happy here, the staff are very good. If it wasn’t for the staff, I wouldn’t be here. The staff know me.” Another person said staff were “very kind people”.
People told us of the activities they participated in that they enjoyed, and told of the variety available to them. One person said of one member of staff, “[he is] absolutely lovely” and they were “very happy with the music therapy”.