About the Service:

Sherdley Court is part of Making Space, a not for profit organisation operating a range of mental health services across Lancashire and Merseyside. Sherdley Court offers placements for people with a primary diagnosis of a functional mental illness and people who have additionally developed dementia. At the time of our visit there were 25 people living there.

People's experience of using the service:

The leadership of the service demonstrated a high level of experience and capability to deliver excellent care; they were extremely knowledgeable and inspired confidence and passion in the staff team. They promoted a culture that was extremely person-centred and which provided high-quality care with good outcomes for people. The management team placed strong emphasis on the importance of not only supporting people but their family members also. They were described as supportive and approachable and always putting the needs of people first. They showed a continued desire to improve on the service and worked closely with other agencies and healthcare professionals to do this. Effective systems were in place to check on the quality and safety of the service and improvements were made when required.

The atmosphere at Sherdley Court was calm and homely; the management team and staff had developed strong, familiar and positive relationships with people and family members. Throughout the inspection the registered manager, management team and staff were seen to be warm and affectionate towards people and often displayed physical contact that was appropriate and accepted by people.

Staff showed a genuine motivation to deliver care in a person centred way based on people’s preferences. People were treated with kindness, compassion and respect. Staff used techniques to help relax people with positive outcomes. Everyone we spoke with told us Sherdley Court was a homely place to live and staff were always kind and caring towards them. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible and supported to do so by staff.

People told us they felt safe living at the service and family members were confident their relatives were kept safe. Risks that people faced were identified and assessed and measures put in place to manage them and minimise the risk of harm occurring. Staff showed a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities for keeping people safe from harm. Medicines were managed safely and people received medication at the right time. The environment was safe and people had access to appropriate equipment where needed.

Enough suitably qualified and skilled staff were deployed to meet people’s individual needs. Staff received a range training and support appropriate to their role and people's needs.

People’s needs and choices were assessed and planned for. Care plans identified intended outcomes for people and how they were to be met in a way they preferred. People told us they received all the right care and support from staff who were well trained and competent. People received the right care and support to eat and drink well and their healthcare needs were understood and met. People who were able consented to their care and support. Where people lacked capacity to make their own decisions they were made in their best interest in line with the Mental Capacity Act.

People received personalised care and support which was in line with their care plan. People, family members and others knew how to make a complaint and they were confident about complaining should they need to. They were confident that their complaint would be listened to and acted upon quickly.

The leadership of the service promoted a positive culture that was person centred and inclusive. People, family members and staff all described the registered manager and deputy manager as supportive and approachable. The management team showed a continued desire to improve on the service and worked closely with other agencies and health

The inspection was unannounced and took place on 2 and 4 March 2016.

Sherdley Court is part of Making Space, a not for profit organisation operating a range of mental health services across Lancashire and Merseyside. Sherdley Court offers placements for people with a primary diagnosis of a functional mental illness and people who have additionally developed dementia. The premises comprises of a single story building, with accommodation grouped into three spacious family type units. It merges inconspicuously into a residential area on the edge of St. Helens, Merseyside. This domestic type property is close to shops, public transport and other local amenities within the area. Staff members are available twenty four hours a day. At the time of our visit there were 25 people living there.

Sherdley Court had a registered manager. 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.

CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. DoLS are in place to protect people where they do not have capacity to make decisions and where it is considered necessary to restrict their freedom in some way, usually to protect themselves. At the time of the inspection the registered manager had submitted DoLS applications for 12 people living in the home and all applications had been authorised by the local authority.

People were at the heart of the service. Staff understood what was important to the people who lived at Sherdley Court and worked closely with them and where appropriate their families to ensure each person had a meaningful and enjoyable life. People played an active part in the running and development of the home.

There was a warm and homely atmosphere and staff cared for people with kindness and genuine interest.

Innovative approaches such as ‘interactive game/music machine” and “The public bar” enhanced people’s quality of life and provided therapeutic benefit to people living with dementia or mental illness.

People were supported to retain an active presence in the local community and to maintain personal interest and hobbies.

The provider regularly assessed and monitored the quality of care to ensure national and local standards were met and maintained.

People were closely involved in planning and reviewing their care and staff showed knowledge and understanding of the issues involved in supporting people who had lost capacity to make some decisions.

The registered manager demonstrated an open, reflective management style and provided strong values-based leadership to the staff team.

Staff received regular training that provided them with the knowledge and skills to meet people’s needs in an effective and person centred way. The low turnover of staff indicated the sense of commitment and ownership that the home generates.

People and their representatives could voice their opinions and views and knew they would be listened to and acted upon as appropriate.

Staff were trained and knowledgeable in end of life care and support and provided a locally produced leaflet, coping with dying which offered valuable information and words of comfort for both people who use the service and their relatives.

During our inspection to Sherdley Court Lodge we visited the communal areas and we went into one bedroom. We saw that all areas were well maintained and regularly assessed to make sure they were safe.

An assessment took place prior to people moving to the home. People living at the home had risk assessments completed and care plans in place. These were regularly updated and provided information of the people’s individual care and support needs.

We saw that people were fully involved in their care planning and signed to say they agreed with their care plans. Advance care plans were in place to be considered if a person was no longer able to make their own decisions.

Staff records showed that a formal recruitment process was followed and all necessary pre-employment checks were carried out.

All the records we requested were provided in a timely manner, easy to follow and complete. They were stored securely.

The people we spoke with gave us positive feedback about the service. Positive feedback was also provided from a small number of recently returned satisfaction surveys. People’s comments included “[My relative’s] room is always tidy and the furnishings are lovely”, “Staff are excellent and the quality of care is excellent” and “I would truly recommend anyone to live here”.

The home is split into three areas all mixed sex areas, all rooms were on the ground floor. The environment was light, modern, airy and well maintained.

People who use the service were able go out at their leisure. Each person had a card with their name and the name and contact details of the home in case they required this whilst they were out. People had the access codes for the door that allow them to enter as they please but there was also an audible sensor to alert staff of entry.

There was a large garden space all around the property and people were encouraged to grow their own plants and vegetables.

What people told us;

"The staff here are great they always chat with me"

"I go out everyday am off to Chester today and will have lunch out, I’ve told the chef not to cook me lunch."

People who used the service said they were encouraged to do as they would in their own homes.

"Staff are always interested in where I’ve been and what I've been doing. Its great that someone cares as I'm on my own."

"This is home from home and the foods good too."

Staff told us the people who used the service were very appreciative of the environment. They also told us they were currently preparing for accreditation of The Gold Standard - End of Life Care award. Once achieved this would allow them to let the people who used the service stay with them till the end of their life if they wanted to, rather than move on when they were at their most vulnerable point of life.