Background to this inspection
Updated
1 December 2022
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.
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
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in four ‘supported living’ settings. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We announced the inspection a few days in advance to ensure that people would give us permission to visit them in their home. Before we visited the supported living settings, we discussed infection control processes for people, staff and inspectors, with reference to COVID-19
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection, we reviewed information we held about the service and the provider which included any statutory notifications sent to the CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. 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 of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
Inspection activity started on 14 November 2022 and ended on 18 November 2022. We visited the location’s office on 14 November 2022 and met with the registered manager, head of care and director. A person who the service supported visited the office with 2 support workers and told us of their experience of the support they received from Kerensa Support.
We visited 2 people in their own home. We spoke with the 2 staff supporting them.
We reviewed 3 peoples care records. We looked at staff records in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service and quality monitoring systems.
We spoke with 4 relatives about their experience of the service. We received 3 emails from health and social care professionals regarding their experience of the service. We also received 3 emails from staff.
On the 18 November we met with the director of the service and the registered manager at the locations office to clarify certain areas and provide feedback.
Updated
1 December 2022
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
About the service
Kerensa Support is a supported living service providing personal care. The service provides support to people living in their own homes so they can live as independently as possible. The service was supporting 6 people who received personal care who lived in their own supported living settings.
Not everyone using the service received a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people who are provided with the regulated activity of 'personal care', for example which includes help with tasks such as personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided.
People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual arrangements. The CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's care and support.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting underpinning principles of “Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right Support, right care, right culture.
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 this practice.
The Right support:
Relatives spoke positively about the support and care their family member received. They commented, "We cannot believe how fortunate we are” and “[Peoples names] are probably the most settled they have been in years.”
The model of care and setting maximised people's choice, control and independence. The supported living settings had easy access to the local community and amenities.
The supported living services are staffed by a team leader and dedicated small staff team who know people. People were supported by enough staff on duty who had been appropriately trained. The registered manager and head of care had oversight of the services and provided support. Relatives were complimentary about staff skill and experience. Comments included, “Staff are excellent.”
Staff were recruited safely. The staff team had the appropriate levels of knowledge and skills to support people and responded to their individual needs and choices. Staff were supported by a system of induction, training, supervisions, appraisals and staff meetings.
People received their medicines in a safe way and were protected from abuse and neglect. People’s care plans and risk assessments were clear and up to date.
Staff supported people to make choices about their daily lives and engage in activities, that were tailored to their individual needs and promoted their independence. People were supported to maintain and develop relationships
People received support to maintain good health and were supported to maintain a balanced diet where this was part of their plan of care.
Right care:
People received good quality person-centred care that promoted their dignity, privacy and human rights. There was a strong person-centred culture within the staff team.
Care plans had been created for each person to help ensure consistent approaches were used by staff when supporting people. Staff knew people well and demonstrated an understanding of people's individual care, behavioural and communication needs. This helped ensure people people's views were heard and their diverse needs met.
Right culture:
The ethos, values, and attitudes of management and care staff ensured people led confident, inclusive and empowered lives. Staff created an environment that inspired people to achieve their goals and ambitions.
People lived as they wished, and staff supported people to do the things they enjoyed.
Relatives, health and social care professionals and staff told us management were approachable and they listened to them when they had any concerns or ideas. All feedback was used to make continuous improvements to the service.
Cleaning and infection control procedures had been updated in line with COVID-19 guidance to help protect people, visitors and staff from the risk of infection. Government guidance about COVID-19 testing for people, staff and visitors was being followed.
For more information, please read the detailed findings section of this report. If you are reading this as a separate summary, the full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 26 August 2021 but did not provide a regulatory activity until March 2022. This is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.