Updated 7 June 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team:
The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.
Service and service type:
Access for living provides care and support to people living in ‘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.
This service is also a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
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.
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 as we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in.
What we did before the inspection: We looked at information we held about the service. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as allegations of abuse and serious accidents and incidents. We also reviewed all other information sent to us from other stakeholders for example the local authority and members of the public.
During the inspection:
We spoke with five people who use the service and five family members who spoke on behalf of a relative.
We spoke with the registered manager, the chief executive, three service development managers, a deputy manager and three support workers.
We reviewed five people's care records and the recruitment and training records of six support workers.
We also looked at quality assurance records related to all aspects of the management of the service.
After the inspection: We received feedback from five health and social care professionals who worked in partnership with the service to plan, arrange and commission care for people who used the service.