Liberty Centre

Updated 21 February 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 was carried out on 16 January 2018 and was announced. We announced the inspection because we wanted to ensure someone would be available to support us during the inspection. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed relevant information that we had about the provider such as the provider information return (PIR) from the service. A PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to decide which areas to focus on during our inspection. We also made contact with health and social professionals that were involved with the service.

During the inspection we visited the providers head office and a supported living site. We spoke with the director, registered manager, quality assurance manager, head of education and communication, a human resources staff, three care staff and two people.

We reviewed documents and records that related to people’s care and the management of the service. We reviewed four people’s care plans, which included risk assessments, and five staff files, which included supervision records. We looked at other documents such as medicine, training and quality assurance records.

After the inspection, we spoke to two relatives by telephone. One of the relative was of a person who received domiciliary care in their own home.

Updated 21 February 2018

We carried out an announced inspection of Liberty Centre on 16 January 2018. 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. At the time of the inspection, seven people lived in the supporting living setting who received personal care. The service also provided a domiciliary service and supported two people with personal care in their own homes.

At the last inspection on 15 September 2015 the service was rated ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’.

The service had a registered manager. 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 legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and the associated regulations on how the service is run.

During our last inspection, we found that the support plans were not always easy to follow, it was not clear when goals were set and reviews did not always capture changes in people’s needs. During this inspection, we found that improvements had been made in this area. Care plans were person centred and included clear information on how to support people. Goals had been set and this had been reviewed regularly and changes in people's needs had been reflected in people's care plans.

Risks had been identified and assessed, which provided information to staff on how to reduce these risks to keep people safe. Medicines were being managed safely. There were sufficient staffing levels to support people. Staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults and knew how to keep people safe. There was safe recruitment process in place to ensure staff were suitable to support people.

Staff had the knowledge, training and skills to care for people effectively. Staff received regular supervision and support to carry out their roles. People had choices during meal times and were supported with meals when required. Assessments had been carried out on people’s ability to make certain decisions. People had access to healthcare services. People’s needs and choices were being assessed regularly through review meetings to achieve effective outcomes.

People and relatives were aware of how to make complaints if they wanted to and staff knew how to manage complaints. People and relatives told us that staff were friendly and caring. People were treated in a respectful and dignified manner by staff who understood the need to protect people's human rights. People had been involved with making decisions about their care.

Staff felt well supported by the management team. Relatives were complimentary about the management of the service. Quality assurance and monitoring systems were in place to make continuous improvements.