Shy Lowen Care Limited

Updated 12 October 2019

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a supported living service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

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 and professionals who worked with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one relative about their experience of the care provided to their family member. We spoke with two members of staff including the registered manager and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two 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.

After the inspection

We analysed additional information provided by the registered manager.

Updated 12 October 2019

About the service

Shy Lowen Care Limited is a supported living service. They provide personal care and support to people with learning disabilities and/or autism who live in their own home in order to promote their independence. The support that people receive is often continuous and tailored to their individual needs. Two people living in one separate supported living setting received the regulated activity of ‘personal care’ from Shy Lowen Care at the time of the inspection.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. However, where staff had assessed people’s capacity and decisions had been made in their best interests, these had not always been documented. We have made a recommendation regarding this.

People and their relatives were positive about the caring nature and approach of staff. Relatives told us their family members were supported by staff who were kind and compassionate. They told us people were safe with the staff who supported them and were confident that any concerns would be dealt with promptly. Appropriate numbers of staff supported people to deliver the care and support people required.

Staff told us they had received appropriate training which supported them to carry out their role. Staff told us they could seek advice from the registered manager. The registered manager and staff were passionate about the care they delivered and were driven to improve the service. They communicated and engaged with others, such as family members. to improve the lives for people. Quality assurance systems had been introduced to identify and address shortfalls in the service.

The registered manager acted on concerns to ensure people received care which was safe and responsive to their needs. Staff were trained in safeguarding people and protecting them from harm. Any concerns or accidents were reported and acted on. The risk posed to people had been assessed and suitable action had been taken to minimise the risk posed to people using the service.

The registered manager monitored the delivery of care through staff observations and feedback from people.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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 15 July 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.