Northumberland Supported Living Service

Updated 19 November 2022

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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to two 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

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

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) in relation to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager, a registered nurse and two support workers who were on duty during the inspection visit. We also looked at policies and documents relating to staff and the management of the service.

Updated 19 November 2022

About the service: Northumberland Supported Living Service provides care and support for up to two people living in a ‘supported living’ setting. At the time of this inspection one person was using the service.

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. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Nurses who are employed by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust also work with the people at the service 24 hours a day. The service had operated in this manner for over 12 years and followed an integrated care model.

People’s experience of using this service: The person looked very comfortable and at home in their surroundings. Staff had worked very closely and sensitively with the person to support them to accept more contact with other people and experience a wider range of activities. Staff were friendly and very skilled at working with the person. Most had worked at the service for a long time. The person and staff knew each other very well and they looked at ease in each other's company.

Staff were well trained and knowledgeable about their roles and the care people needed. Feedback highlighted how the person's life had improved since they moved to the service.

Systems and processes were in place and well monitored so the service was safe and run well. Nurses managed all aspects of medicine administration. The registered manager and staff had robust risk assessments and acted appropriately to mitigate any identified risks.

People's rights were upheld. The person was given choice and supported to make decisions. Where people did not have capacity to make decisions, they were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

Staff effectively reported any safeguarding matters. The registered manager thoroughly investigated any concerns, and resolved these matters. All incidents were critically analysed, lessons were learnt and embedded into practice.

The service was well run. Staff told us the registered manager was fair, and good at listening to people and staff thoughts about how to make the service better. The registered manager carried out lots of checks to make sure that the service was delivering a good service.

Rating at last inspection: Good (Report published on 3 June 2016).

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection. It was scheduled based on the previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.