Peak 15 Ltd

Updated 17 March 2020

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 two assistant inspectors.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in five ‘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. Some people also received domiciliary care in their own houses and flats.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we held about the service including feedback from professionals and the public and statutory notifications. Statutory notifications are reports of invents that providers are required by law to tell us about. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people in total. We met three people at the provider’s office and a further three people when we visited two supported living houses. We spoke with the chairman, the nominated individual, the registered manager, two service managers and four care staff.

We reviewed care plans for six people, including records related to risk, medicines and personalised care planning. We checked three staff files and records related to training for staff and people. We reviewed a variety of documents related to activities and events, as well as documentation related to the running of the service such as audits and policies. We also checked records of meetings, incidents, complaints and surveys.

After the inspection

We received email evidence from the provider which we considered. We also spoke with three relatives and one staff member by telephone to gather further feedback.

Updated 17 March 2020

About the service

Ashcroft Care services is a supported living service providing personal care to people in five supported living services. They also provided personal care and outreach support to people living in the local community. At the time of inspection, 49 people were receiving personal care.

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.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People and relatives spoke very positively of the care they received and this was matched by compliments received about the service from people, relatives and professionals. People described the freedom and independence they had developed from the care they received. People received a highly personalised service which enabled them to develop their skills and become independent. People routinely took ownership and control over their care needs, find meaningful activities, relationships and employment. There was a personalised approach to risk with a focus on enabling people to take risks in a way that gave them increased choice and control over their lives.

People and staff were well trained and had a good understanding in a variety of areas of care. People’s healthcare needs were met in a holistic and highly personalised way so people were empowered to understand and maintain their own health and wellbeing. 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.

Staff were very committed to the people they worked with and we saw multiple instances of staff standing up for people’s rights and supporting people to speak up where they found discrimination. There was a strong attention to detail evident in the ways staff involved people and found ways to improve their lives and help them to develop.

People had multiple opportunities to engage in meaningful activities and support was targeted based on people’s outcomes. People had entered employment, found new interests, been on holiday and started relationships with a planned and personalised approach to care.

The service embodied strong values which meant there was equality and unity between people, staff and management. People were consistently involved in all areas of the service and the service had strong links with the local community which had achieved positive outcomes for people. There was strong leadership throughout the service and support to staff which made them valued and committed to the people they supported.

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.

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 Outstanding (published 21 February 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.