Courthouse

Updated 24 February 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in a supported living setting, 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.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave notice of the inspection because some of the people using it could not consent to a home visit from an inspector. This meant that we had to arrange for a 'best interests' decision about this. We also needed to be sure the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 25 January 2023 and ended on 31 January 2023. We visited the office location on 26 January 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. 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.

This information helps support our inspection. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

Due to the specific needs of the person, we were unable to visit them in their home.

As people were unable to talk to us, we had phone contact with 1 relative for feedback about the service about the care their family member received. During the office visit we met with the registered manager and the deputy manager. We also spoke to 2 members of staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included care records and plans. We looked at 3 staff file's in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 24 February 2023

About the service

The service provides care and support to people living in a supported living setting so that they can live as independently as possible. The service predominantly supports people with a learning disability or autistic people; they are also registered to support people with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there was 1 person was using the service.

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

The registered manager's governance arrangements did not always provide assurance the service was well led. Quality assurance systems were not robust and had not identified the shortfalls we found during our inspection. Limited information was available or recorded to demonstrate the registered manager had recognised where improvements were needed, and lessons learned to improve quality of care to people. We have made a recommendation about their process of recording incidents.

No concerns had been raised by people using the service or their relatives. No safeguarding concerns had been raised since the service became operational in September 2021. The registered manager demonstrated an awareness and understanding of their responsibilities to ensure infection, prevention and control practices were operated in line with government guidance. Staff supported the person as needed to ensure their nutritional, hydration and healthcare needs were met.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support

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.

Staff focused on people's strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life. People were supported by staff to pursue their interests.

Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community.

Right Care

Staff spoke respectfully about people and treated them with compassion. Staff respected people's privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to people's individual's needs.

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.

People's care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life.

People could take part in activities and pursue interests that were tailored to them. The service gave people opportunities to try new activities that enhanced and enriched their lives.

Staff and people cooperated to assess risks people might face. Where appropriate, staff encouraged and enabled people to take positive risks.

Right Culture

People received good quality care, support and treatment because trained staff and specialists could meet their needs and wishes.

People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments or sensitivities people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have. This meant people received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their needs. Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing.

Staff evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate.

The service enabled people and those important to them to work with staff to develop the service. Staff valued and acted upon people's views.

Staff ensured risks of a closed culture were minimised so that people received support based on transparency, respect and inclusivity.

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 17 September 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support, right care and right culture.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of the report.

Enforcement and recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to medicines management and quality assurance.

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