Background to this inspection
Updated
11 February 2023
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in 28 ‘supported living’ settings, 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.
Registered Manager
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We gave a short period notice of the inspection to enable the registered manager to seek consent from people using the service, their relatives and staff, so we could contact or visit them as part of the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 20 January 2023 and ended on 25 January 2023. We visited the office location on 25 January 2023.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
With their consent, we visited 8 people living in their own homes. We also spoke with 5 team leaders and 5 members of staff. At the office, we spoke with the registered manager, an area manager and the head of operations. In addition, we spoke with 6 relatives by telephone.
We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people’s support plans and associated records as well as 4 people’s medication records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment. In addition, we looked at records relating to the management of the service including policies and procedures and staff training as well as audits and quality checks.
Updated
11 February 2023
About the service
West Lancashire Branch Office, known to people using the service and staff as AFG (Alternative Futures Group), is a supported living service providing personal care to people who lived in their own homes across west Lancashire.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
At the time of the inspection, a total of 96 people were using the service, of which 57 people were receiving support with personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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.
Right Support
People were supported in a kind, sensitive and respectful way. People were involved in discussions about their support and were given information in a way they understood. Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests in the local area. Care and support had been developed around individual assessed needs. Staff worked in a way which promoted people's independence. People were supported to access healthcare services and staff liaised closely with other health and social care professionals. People received their medicines, however, we found some shortfalls in the records and made a recommendation about the management of medicines.
There were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet people's needs and ensure their safety. Staff were recruited safely, and relevant checks had been carried out. People were supported by staff who had been trained and were appropriately supervised. People’s needs were assessed prior to the receipt of service.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported practice.
Right Care
People were positive about the care and support they received. People were treated with dignity and respect, and their independence was encouraged. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. People had personalised care plans which considered their needs and preferences. Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. Staff knew people well and communicated effectively with people to ensure they felt understood and valued.
Right Culture
The registered manager and staff promoted a person-centred culture which was focused on meeting people's individual needs. The registered manager was committed to the continuous improvement of the service. The registered manager and staff sought feedback and worked in partnership with others including health and social care professionals to ensure people received the support they needed. Staff had access to a wide range of relevant training which was refreshed at regular intervals. The provider had established effective systems to monitor the quality of the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 13 May 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection to check whether the provider was meeting legal requirements and regulations, and to provide a rating for the service.
Recommendations
We made a recommendation about the management of medicines.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspection.