Background to this inspection
Updated
19 December 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. 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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience who completed phone calls to people who used the service. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
This service provides personal care to people living in their own self-contained flats, all flats are in one building which also houses the main office for the care agency.
This service provides care and support to people living in eighteen ‘supported living’ settings, 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.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
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. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager, a senior care worker and a care worker.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data, staff rotas and the company’s business continuity plan. We spoke with a further person who used the service and a further six members of staff.
Updated
19 December 2019
About the service
Seaside Care Services provides personal care to 18 adults who were living in purpose built sheltered accommodation. The people using the service all lived in self-contained flats, the company’s office is within this building on the first floor. The first and second floors hold 13 flats and then there are a further five flats on the ground floor. There are no communal areas within the building, however people using the service would attend the office to speak to staff and spend time with their key workers. The office had staff present 24 hours a day, with waking night staff working through the night to be available in case of any support required.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of inspection six people were being supported with personal care.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were kept safe by trained and experienced staff. The registered manager had followed safe recruitment processes to ensure appropriate staff were recruited. People were supported to take their medicines, and medicines were stored and managed in a safe way.
People had thorough risk assessments in place and staff showed good knowledge of people’s individual risks. People were supported to eat a balanced diet and staff worked well with other professional partners. This ensured people received joined up care where all professionals working with them were aware of changing needs.
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.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People were supported by kind and caring staff that treated them with dignity and respect. People’s privacy was respected by staff. People were supported to make decisions about their care and independence was encouraged by staff.
People received personalised care and were supported to follow individual interests and hobbies. Care plans detailed the best ways to meet people’s individual communication needs and staff were effective in understanding this guidance and putting it in to practise.
There were mixed comments from staff about the registered manager and a recommendation has been made for the provider to address these inconsistencies found in staff comments.
Quality assurance audits were in place to identify any changes required to improve the service. People were offered the opportunity to provide feedback and the registered manager and staff were successfully working in partnership with health and social care professionals to ensure the best outcomes for the people using the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 23 May 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.