Background to this inspection
Updated
5 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 was announced and took place on 13 and 16 April 2018. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location provides a supported living service and we needed to be sure that people would be available when we visited.
The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Prior to our inspection we reviewed information we held about the service, in particular notifications about incidents, accidents and safeguarding information. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. Prior to the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
We spoke with four people who used the service and three relatives. We interviewed three staff, a director and the registered manager.
We reviewed two support plans, recruitment files, and records relating to the quality and safety monitoring of the service.
Updated
5 June 2018
Herts and Essex independence at home was inspected on 13 and 16 April 2018 and the inspection was announced. A previous inspection was undertaken in May 2016 and the service was rated good. At this inspection we found that the service had retained its overall good rating and had continued to develop in specific areas and as a result we have rated caring as outstanding.
Herts and Essex independence at home provides care and support to people living in specialist housing. The accommodation is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate the premises; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.
People using this service lived in two ordinary flats and one house shared by four people. The properties were all located in the Bishops Stortford areas. As part of the inspection we visited the main office which was located in Saffron Walden and two of the properties where people were supported. In total the service supported six people with a learning disability.
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 care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. A key principle is that people with learning disabilities and autism can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
People spoke highly of the service and the quality of care they received. Relatives echoed this and told us that they would not hesitate to recommend the service to others.
People were assisted to develop their skills and live their life as independently as possible. They were empowered to have a voice and realise their potential. They were supported to work and had good access to their local community enabling them to lead a full and interesting life.
Staff were clear about their responsibilities and the values that underpinned their work. Care was person centred and focussed on the needs of the individual. People’s needs were regularly reviewed and they were supported by a consistent staff team who knew them well. Staff had excellent relationships with people and their relatives. Any concerns or issues were addressed in an open and transparent way. Staff had access to regular training opportunities to ensure that their skills and knowledge was kept up to date.
There were sufficient numbers of staff who were used flexibility to meet people’s individual needs.
Recruitment procedures had been strengthened since the last inspection and were well organised, providing safeguards to people.
Staff were clear about the actions they needed to take to protect people and manage the risks associated with their care. The staff worked alongside a number of professionals to promote peoples wellbeing. People were supported with their nutrition and medicines. Staff were trained in medicine administration and regular audits were undertaken to identify shortfalls and learning.
The manager was approachable and staff were motivated and enabled to contribute to the service development. There was a quality assurance system in place to drive forward continuous improvement.