Living Support 4 U

Living Support 4 U is a 'supported living' service that provides personal care to people living with dementia, mental health conditions, sensory impairments and physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were no people living in ‘supported living’ settings, however, the service was providing personal care to 8 people living in their own houses and flats.

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.

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

Medicines were not safely managed. Staff were not assessed as competent before they supported people with their medicines. The provider’s medicine policy lacked detail and did not cover all aspects about managing people’s medicines safely.

Moving and handling risk assessments were not always detailed.

Recruitment checks were not always robust to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable adults.

Although 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 systems in the service did not always support this practice. The provider had not assessed people’s mental capacity and people’s care plans lacked details around their cognition and understanding.

Elements of care plans were person-centred and provided some guidance for staff about how to support people’s needs, however, there was room for improvement. The care plans in place did not consider the person’s end of life wishes. Although people’s communication needs were met by the staff (as they knew people well) and the service was aware of the AIS, people’s care plans lacked information about their communication styles and needs.

Systems and processes to assess, monitor and improve the service required embedding into practice.

People's needs were assessed prior to starting with the service and meet and greets were carried out as part of people’s initial assessments. People and relatives were involved in the care planning, which was reviewed regularly or when people’s needs changed.

People’s views and decisions about care were incorporated when their care packages were devised. People were involved in making decisions about their day to day care.

People were treated with dignity, privacy, and respect. People’s independence was encouraged where possible and this was reflected in people’s care plans. Staff had received training in equality and diversity, and they were committed to ensuring people were treated well. People told us staff treated and supported them well.

People were protected from the risks of abuse and staff were trusted to keep them safe. Staff had received training in safeguarding people. Staff we spoke with were confident on how to report concerns.

No formal or informal complaints had been made at the time of our inspection.

Staff demonstrated a commitment to people, and they displayed person-centred values. People and relatives’ feedback were sought through regular contact and feedback forms. Staff views were sought through regular meetings and supervisions.

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 October 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Enforcement

We have identified a breach in relation to the management of people’s medicines and mitigating risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of people.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.