Background to this inspection
Updated
26 June 2018
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
The inspection took place on 19 and 27 April 2018. We gave the registered manager 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. The provider was given notice because the service provides a domiciliary service and we wanted to make sure the manager would be available to support our inspection or someone who could act on their behalf.
The inspection was carried out by one inspector and one expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of service.
Before the inspection we reviewed all of the information we held about the service including previous inspection reports and notifications sent to us by the provider. Notifications are information about specific important events the service is legally required to send us.
We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
We visited one person at home, and spoke with six people and their relatives. We spoke with three health professionals, the registered manager, and the general manager. We also spoke with three staff members.
We looked at electronic and paper records relating to people’s care. The records held in people’s homes are called their ‘working file’. We also looked at records relating to the overall management of the service and three staff personnel files.
Updated
26 June 2018
The inspection took place on 19 and 27 April 2018 and was announced.
Independent Living Solutions provides specialist care and support packages to people living in their own homes. They work with people who have an identified need such as spinal cord injury, brain injury or cerebral palsy. They provide a case management and rehabilitation service to children and adults.
Not everyone using Independent Living Solutions receives a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.
A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People and their relatives told us the staff were caring, there were good support teams in place and people were treated with respect and dignity.
People were safe. Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding. Staff had received appropriate training and were able to recognise any safety concerns. The service had systems in place to notify the appropriate authorities where concerns were identified.
Where risks to people had been identified, risk assessments were in place and guidance for staff on how to minimise those risks.
Consent to assist people was gained prior to any action or activity undertaken. Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and were able to apply this in their work with people.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications (court orders) had been made to the Supervisory Body appropriately, however not all documents were in place regarding health and welfare decisions for people who lacked capacity to make these decisions. We have made a recommendation about best practice regarding the Mental Capacity Act.
Care plans detailed people’s preferences, choices and independent abilities. Care plans were person centred and people and their relatives had been actively involved in developing their support plans.
Staff spoke positively about the support they received from the management team (team leaders, case managers and the registered manager). All staff received regular one to one supervision with their case manager.
Relatives, professionals and staff told us the service was responsive and well managed. The service sought people’s, their relatives and staff views and opinions and acted upon them.