Background to this inspection
Updated
6 August 2022
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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to a person living in one ‘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 a few days’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure the registered manager would be available to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 7 July 2022 and ended on 19 July 2022. We visited the person at their home and the providers office on the 7 July 2022. We spoke with relatives and health care professionals the week beginning 11 July 2022.
What we did before inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered with us. We used this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We met the person who used the service at their home. They were able to tell us about their service with the support of the registered manager and a staff member.
We also spoke with two relatives to gain their views of the care and support provided.
We spoke with the registered manager, a staff member and the providers nominated individual.
We reviewed the person’s medication records and discussed their support plans. We looked at one staff file in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including, staff training records, the providers business continuity plan and staff meeting minutes were reviewed.
We contacted six staff by email and received a response from two of them. We also received feedback from a health and social care professional.
Updated
6 August 2022
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
About the service
Insight Dynamics is a supported living service. A small team of care staff provides care and support to one person who has a learning disability in a house in Tiverton. The provider set up the service for this person because they attended their day care centre and said they were not happy in their placement. The provider would like to have more people living at the house but felt it was very important that they were the right people.
People's experience of using this service and what we found.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.
Right Care
The person received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected them and respected their privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs.
Staff understood how to protect the person from poor care and abuse. They worked with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.
The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet the persons needs and keep them safe. Although the registered manager needed to undertake duties as they had staff vacancies.
The person could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs.
The persons support plans reflected their needs and preferences and this enhanced their wellbeing and enjoyment of life. The registered manager and staff had an excellent understanding of the person’s needs. The care the person received was focused on their quality of life and followed best practice.
The person could take part in activities and pursue interests that were tailored to them. Staff supported the person to try new activities that enhanced and enriched their lives.
Right Support
The person was supported to have maximum possible choice and control of their life and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff supported the person to be involved in all decisions about their care and support. Staff used communication methods which included Makaton (a language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate) to enable them to express themselves. The person’s family felt involved.
The person supported by the service received personalised care and support which was completely built around their needs and preferences and to achieve their aspirations and goals. They had their own small staff team who they knew and trusted.
Staff supported the person with their medicines and achieved the best possible health outcome.
The person was supported by staff to pursue their interests and take on new challenges to enhance their quality of life. They led a very active and social life and were able to try new things that interested them. For example, playing football.
Staff enabled the person to access specialist health and social care support in the community.
Right culture
The person led a happy, inclusive and empowered life because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the registered manager and staff. The service had achieved very positive outcomes for the person, they were happier and more content.
The registered manager and staff worked hard to promote a culture where the person was valued and respected as an individual. This had enabled the person to develop and flourish. Staff were committed to the values of the organisation.
Staff ensured the person received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their specific needs, wishes, and rights.
Staff knew the person well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing. The person was cared for and valued as an individual.
The person and those important to them were involved in planning their care.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
This service was registered with us on 26 March 2021 and this is the first inspection.
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.