Royal College Manchester

Updated 17 April 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 team consisted of one adult social care inspector and one children’s services inspector.

Service and service type:

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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection site visit because the manager is often out of the office supporting staff. We needed to be sure that someone would be available.

What we did:

Before the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service including notifications the registered manager was required to send us about things happening in the service, information from other stakeholders, for example local authorities and information from members of the public. In addition, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). Providers are required to send us key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection we spoke with two people using the service, four relatives of people using the service, five support workers, office support staff, the registered manager, nominated individual and director of service. We reviewed care and medication records of three people and quality assurance documents used by the provider.

Updated 17 April 2019

About the service:

Royal College Manchester is part of the Seashell Trust. The service provides accommodation and support to up to 40 young adults with profound and multiple learning difficulties. Most people using the service are supported to attend the on-site college or school but the service also provides short breaks for young adults. The accommodation is provided by ten, four-bedroom, purpose built homes. Each home was adapted to meet the needs of the people living there.

People were receiving accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

People received personalised care that suited their needs. People and relatives we spoke with told us they felt well supported and were happy. We observed people being treated as individuals and supported accordingly.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

People were treated as individuals and encouraged to develop life skills and be a part of the wider community.

People’s needs were assessed well in advance of them moving to the college to allow staff to identify other people who they may get on with and place them in houses together.

Staff were skilled in communicating with non-verbal people. Staff knew the people they were supporting well and understood their communication needs. This allowed staff to understand the person’s choices and mood.

Homes were adapted to suit the needs of people and, where appropriate, technology was used to allow people to control their own environment.

People were supported to be active and participate in activities both on-site and in the local community. Where appropriate the service tried to find people work placements to develop their life skills further.

The service met the characteristics of good in all areas and is therefore rated as good overall. More information is in the full report which is on the CQC website www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection the service was rated good (published 4 August 2016).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating of the service at the last inspection.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service through information we receive and future inspections.