Background to this inspection
Updated
18 February 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.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in seven ‘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 24 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
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last 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 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 three people using the service, one support worker and the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medicines 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 and quality assurance records. We spoke with one relative and two support staff.
Updated
18 February 2020
About the service
Sanctuary Supported Living - Ealing Care Services is a supported living service that provides personal care to people with mental health needs. The service can support up to seven people and at the time of the inspection, five people were living in the service.
The service was one building with seven self-contained flats. There were also communal areas in the building that included a garden, lounge, kitchen and laundry facilities. The service was staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and there was a staff office on the premises.
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
The provider had systems in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse and staff knew how to respond to possible safeguarding concerns. Medicines were administered safely. Safe recruitment procedures were in place to ensure staff were suitable to work with people using the service. Staff followed appropriate infection control practices to help prevent cross infection.
Staff were supported to provide effective care through induction, training, supervision and spot checks. People's needs were assessed to ensure these could be met. People were supported to maintain health and access healthcare services appropriately. People were also 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 respectful of people’s wishes and preferences and provided support in a respectful manner. People’s independence was promoted.
There was a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to make a complaint.
The provider had systems in place to monitor, manage and improve service delivery and to improve the care and support provided to people. Stakeholders reported the registered manager was approachable and promoted an open work environment.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 19 July 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.