Mary House

The service was last inspected in May 2023 and rated Requires Improvement. This inspection was planned to follow up on previous breaches of regulations relating to safe care and treatment, and good governance. At this inspection we found sufficient improvements had been made and the provider had met the breaches of regulation.

We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. The service was fully compliant with these principles.

There was a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and transparency. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. For example, medicine errors were taken seriously and extra training to support staff in safe medicine practices as the need arose. Risks to people were managed safely and enabled people with complex needs to take risks within a risk assessment framework. People were supported by a staffing team that were fully trained and who had been safely recruited into the service. The service was well maintained, clean and personal protective equipment (PPE) was used appropriately. Medicines were stored and administered safely.

People’s support needs were assessed prior to moving into the service and then regularly reviewed during their transition period and then monthly unless a health need was identified. The service worked well with other health and social care professionals to ensure good outcomes for people. People’s independence was encouraged, and people were supported to make simple decisions about their daily lives. Some people were supported with complex decisions and mental capacity assessments that were decision specific were in place, as were Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

Staff treated people with kindness and respect. People were encouraged and enabled to be as independent as possible supported by dedicated and committed staff. Staff welfare and support was respected by the registered manager and staff told us they felt supported.

Care was person centred and people that were non-verbal had a variety of ways that they could communicate, supported by a staff team that knew them well. People could engage in whatever activities they chose and were supported to go out into community for events and trips.

The registered manager had a clear vision of the future of the service with people’s care and supporting them to lead their best lives, at the centre of future plans. Robust governance processes were in place and systems for sharing good practice and learning from when things went wrong, were shared with staff. Equality and diversity policies were in place and processes upheld with people’s difference being celebrated.