We carried out a review of the data available to us about Creative Support - Jarrow Service on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Creative Support - Jarrow Service, you can give feedback on this service.
Creative Support Jarrow is a supported living service providing personal care to people in their own homes. The service provides support to younger adults with a learning disability or autism spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection there were 6 people using the service.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.
Right Support
Systems were in place to ensure the right support was being provided that ensured people’s human rights were respected and their opinions were listened to and valued.
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.
There were sufficient staff to support people safely. Where there were staff vacancies the provider had a contingency plan in place to ensure people were safely and effectively supported, with minimum disruption to their lives.
Staff followed the provider’s ethos to provide person-centred care that enabled individuals to develop skills and behaviours to live more independent lives. A relative commented, “[Name] has really settled, they love it.”
People were provided with a variety of opportunities to be part of the community, to make choices and fulfil their aspirations. A person told us, “I’ve been on holiday.” A relative commented, “[Name] goes out all the time, bowling, to the park and meals out.”
Right Care
People were supported over a 24-hour period in their own homes. Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. A person commented, “I like living here, this is my home.”
Most relatives were complimentary about the care provided by staff. They said staff were kind, caring and supportive of people and their families. A relative told us, "Staff have hearts of gold, they are so patient."
Staff had received safeguarding training and were clear on how and when to raise their concerns. Where appropriate, actions were taken to keep people safe. Staff followed effective processes to assess and provide the support people needed to take their medicines safely.
Right Culture
The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the managers and care staff ensured people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.
There was a positive atmosphere at the service. Staff spoke very positively about working at the service and the people they cared for. Staff said the management team were very approachable and they were supported in their role.
Relatives were involved in decision making about their relative’s care, but some commented there could be improvements to communication from some households to keep them up-to-date about any changes in their relative’s needs.
A governance system was in place to monitor the quality of the service through audits and feedback received from people, their relatives, staff and external agencies. Processes were in place to manage and respond to complaints and concerns.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was good (published 20 December 2017).
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Recommendations
We have made a recommendation that records should provide more detailed guidance for staff, so people receive care that helps them fulfil their potential and achieve their wishes, with a more regular system of evaluation and review to monitor people’s well-being.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
This service provides care and support to people living in a six ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing needs 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 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 requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The service also had a dedicated manager on site.
At the last inspection in August 2015, the service was rated ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’.
Relatives we spoke with told us they were happy with the support and care their relative received. Sufficient appropriately trained staff were employed to meet people’s needs. People received a continuity of care with the same support workers. Staff were knowledgeable about the people they supported and interests important to them.
People were protected from abuse and harm. Staff had completed safeguarding training and were confident in identifying the signs of abuse and what action to take to keep people safe. A robust recruitment and selection process was in place. Medicines were managed safely. Procedures were in place to deal with emergency situations.
The service was responsive to people’s individual needs and preferences, enabling people to live a full life. Relatives and people were involved in the planning of their care. Information was provided in easy read format to assist people in understanding the care available to them.
People had maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Activities were arranged for people who used the service based on their likes and interests and to help meet their social needs. People were supported to maintain good health and had access to healthcare professionals.
People and relatives told us staff were kind and caring. People were encouraged to be as independent as they wished.
Staff supported people to achieve their set objectives. Care plans gave clear information for staff to make sure each person’s specific needs were met.
Staff told us they were supported by the registered manager and manager. The provider carried out a range of quality assurance checks to monitor, identify and manage the quality of care provided.
The inspection took place on 5 August 2015. This was the first time the service has been inspected.
Creative Support – Jarrow provides an independent supported living service to adults with learning disabilities.
The service comprises of six semi-detached bungalows, where people are assisted to live in the community. The service can accommodate up to six people, at the time of our inspection there were six people using the service.
A new manager was in place at the time of our inspection. The manager was aware of their responsibility to apply to become a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.
Family members told us their relatives were safe. One family member said, “Staff look after [my relative] well. They are happy.” Another said, “Everything is planned, staff keep [my relative] safe.”
People using the service and their families were involved in the recruitment process. All staff had completed a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. We also saw the provider carried out reference checking in line with their recruitment policy.
Staff we spoke to had a good understanding of safeguarding adults. We saw any concerns were investigated and the appropriate authorities were informed.
Risk assessments were specific to the person and identified the risk and the actions needed to be taken to keep the person safe. We noted these were reviewed every six months or before if required.
Medicines were administered safely and records related to medicines were accurately completed.
We saw personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPS) were present in people’s care records. They gave staff clear directions on actions to take in the event of a fire, including an identification of hazards and escape routes.
Staff members we spoke to told us they had received training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and they were confident in supporting people who did not have capacity.
There were systems in place for handling and resolving complaints. Family members were aware of how to raise any concerns they may have.
Care plans were person centred and contained appropriate risk assessments. They were regularly reviewed and amended as necessary to ensure they reflected people’s changing support needs.
People had regular access to external health and social care professionals as they were required.
Staff were visible and the atmosphere was happy and calm. All activities and chats involved the people who used the service. We saw staff gave people their full attention throughout the whole day.
The provider had a clear philosophy to promote rights, independence, choice, inclusion, social opportunities, meaningful activities and relationships.
Staff were caring and treated people respectfully making sure their dignity was maintained.
People were involved in planning their own individual activities. We saw in one person’s home a board with pictures indicating activities or tasks for the week.
Quality assurance systems were in place and audits were carried out regularly to monitor the delivery of the service.