Nottingham Regional Office

Updated 11 September 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 team consisted of one inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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 care and support to people living in a number of ‘supported living’ settings, so 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.

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 we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before inspection

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 contacted Healthwatch, which is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who use the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff, including two care workers, the registered manager and quality manager.

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 supervision performed. 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 quality data and a variety of policies.

Updated 11 September 2019

About the service

Nottingham Regional Office is a Supported Living Service providing personal and nursing care to 12 people, with learning disabilities, autism and other complex needs, at the time of the inspection. 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.

The 12 people, who received personal care, lived in three different shared properties. There were 64 other people, supported by the service, who did not receive regulated personal care. Those people lived in a variety of other apartments and flats.

The type of night time support provided in the shared properties all differed. There was assistive technology equipment in place which meant people could be supported to live more independently.

There was a main office that housed the area manager, six team managers, and administrative staff.

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

The service was safe. Staff received training in safeguarding and understood their role in reporting concerns to protect people from harm. There were effective risk assessments in place. Recruitment checks were in place to ensure staff were suitable to care for people who used the service. Staff received support and supervision. Infection control procedures were followed to minimise the risk of people acquiring an infection. People were supported to take their medicines in a safe way.

Peoples health care needs were well met, and people were supported to eat and drink. Staff supported people to make choices and decisions about their care. The service had an effective complaints procedure.

Staff were kind and caring. People were treated with dignity and respect. People’s needs were assessed on a regular basis and records were up to date. Staff maintained confidentiality.

People were supported to engage in the community and develop independence. Staff supported people well to avoid social isolation and family involvement was encouraged.

Care planning was detailed and outcomes for people were, staff had an excellent knowledge of people’s needs and preferences. There was good end of life planning.

The service was well-led. Incidents and accidents were analysed for trends and discussed with staff to prevent reoccurrence. Management oversight was good, regular audits took place with feedback to staff. Staff and people had regular meetings to discuss issues and make improvements.

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.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 24 August 2016).

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.