Background to this inspection
Updated
16 October 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. 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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in eight ‘supported living’ flats, 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.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission who was also the provider. This means that they 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. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
Inspection activity started on 24 September 2019 and ended on 26 September 2019. We visited the office location on 24 September 2019.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We visited and spoke to five people that used the service. Not all of the people we met were able to share their experiences with us due to their complex needs, so we spent time observing how staff interacted with people. We spoke two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager, assistant manager, an acting senior support worker, four support workers and the quality and autism practice manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and two people’s medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We also spoke with a healthcare professional who regularly visited the service.
Updated
16 October 2019
About the service
Community Supported living-St Pauls is a supported living service providing personal care to people with a range of needs and included learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection, eight people were being supported in their own flats within a supported living complex. People also had access to a large shared garden and a communal lounge. The service supported four other people in their own home in the community, however only one of these people received personal care.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and relatives told us people were provided with safe care and support at Community Supported living-St Pauls. Risks to people's health and well-being had been identified and thoroughly assessed. Records contained clear guidance to staff on how to manage risks to keep people safe. Staff knew about people’s individual risks and how to minimise these.
There were enough knowledgeable and suitably skilled staff to provide safe care and treatment. Each person had their own core team of staff who knew them well. Staff were kind and caring, and treated people with dignity and respect. The provider had a robust recruitment procedure which prevented unsuitable staff from working with vulnerable adults. Staff told us they took pleasure in their role and enjoyed working at the service.
People had enough to eat and drink and their nutritional needs had been assessed. Guidance was provided in care plans for staff about how to encourage people to maintain a healthy diet. People could eat when and what they wanted to.
People received their medicines as prescribed. Medicines were ordered, stored, administered and disposed of safely. Good infection control processes were followed.
People's needs, and preferences had been assessed before they received support from the service. People’s care and support was planned in partnership with them, those closest to them and appropriate health professionals. Records showed referrals had been made to other healthcare professionals to ensure people remained well where necessary.
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, inclusion and independence. People were encouraged to make day to day decisions about their care. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent .
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 provider and registered manager were committed to providing high-quality person-centred care within the service. There was a focus on valuing people's unique characteristics and enriching the lives of autistic people living in the West Midlands. Regular checks and audits took place to drive improvements at 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
The last rating for this service was good (published 11 April 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.