Community Learning Disabilities

Updated 4 June 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. 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 team consisted of an inspector and an assistant inspector.

Service and service type:

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in housing schemes, their own houses and flats.

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 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection site visit activity started on 7 May 2019 and ended on 8 May 2019. We visited the office location on both days.

What we did:

Our inspection was informed by evidence we already held about the service. We also checked for feedback we received from members of the public and the local authority. We also checked records held by the Charities Commission.

Our plan took into account information the provider sent us since the last inspection. We also considered information about matters the provider must notify us about, such as events involving injury. We obtained information from the local authority commissioners and safeguarding team and other professionals who work with the service.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection we visited the service's office and met people and staff at three housing schemes where support was provided. At the visit to the office location we saw the registered manager, provider's representative, care staff and office staff. We also reviewed care records and policies and procedures. We telephoned four people who used the service and two relatives during the inspection.

We reviewed five people's care records, five staff recruitment and personnel files, staff training documents and other records about the management of the service.

After the inspection we continued to seek clarification from the provider to corroborate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with one professional who visits a person who used the service.

Updated 4 June 2019

About the service: Warrington Community Living is a registered Charity. It provides a range of community services for adults and older people in the Warrington area. The service is registered to support people with a variety of needs including people with learning disabilities.

CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'. This includes help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. At this inspection there were 41 people using the service out of which nine people were in receipt of a regulated activity.

People's experience of using this service:

We saw good examples of how people were supported to remain safe at times when they were at risk. Robust safeguarding training and policy assisted staff to keep people safe.

Staff were proactive and supported people to take positive risks, ensuring they had maximum choice and control of their lives.

There was a recruitment processes for staff. We noted that some documented pre-recruitment checks were not available at inspection but this issue was resolved after the inspection.

There were environmental safety issues found at two of the assisted living schemes we visited during the inspection. As a result, we have made a recommendation about this in the ‘Safe’ section of this report.

There was a matching process, which ensured that staff were suited to care for people.

Medicines were managed safely and people were supported with their medicines.

There was an open and transparent culture in relation to accidents and incidents and they were used as opportunities to learn and reduce risks.

People's needs were met through robust assessments and support planning.

The service worked with other healthcare professionals to achieve positive outcomes for people and to improve their quality of life.

Staff had good knowledge and skills and the training made available to them ensured people's needs were well met.

We saw good examples of when people had been supported to maintain a healthy and balanced diet

People with complex health needs received care and support that was positive and consistent and which improved their quality of life.

The provider's policies and systems ensured people were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and were supported in the least restrictive way possible.

People told us staff were compassionate and kind.

Staff expressed a commitment to ensuring people received high-quality care.

Staff knew people well and supported them to maintain relationships with people that mattered to them.

People were encouraged to learn new skills to enhance their independence and were treated with dignity and respect.

People received care and support that was person-centred.

We saw good examples of how the care and support people received enriched their lives through meaningful activities.

The service was proactive in its response to concerns or complaints and people knew how to feedback their experiences.

The registered manager planned and promoted holistic, person-centred, high-quality care resulting in good outcomes for people.

The values and culture embedded in the service ensured people were at the heart of the care and support they received. Staff told us they received excellent support from management and staff told us they were proud to work for the service.

There was an open and transparent culture and people were empowered to voice their opinions. People told us the service was well-managed.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection, the service was rated outstanding (published 28 October 2016).

Why we inspected:

We carried out this inspection based on the previous rating of the service.

Follow up:

We will continue to review information we receive about the service until we return to visit as part of our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.