Background to this inspection
Updated
12 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.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in a number of 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.
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 24 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
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 We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, support staff, the manager for quality monitoring and the manager of the multi-disciplinary team.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, which included staff meetings and quality monitoring records.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. The registered manager provided information to support the governance and quality monitoring of the service.
We sought feedback from commissioners and health care professionals who work with the service to support people. Family members provided information about the service by telephone and e-mail.
Updated
12 March 2020
About the service
Fenny Mews and Stratford View is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own accommodation within the two supported living houses, namely 'Fenny Mews' and 'Stratford View'. The two houses provide a communal space for people to spend time with each other. The service in addition supports people living in other supported living accommodation, not on site, as part of their ‘outreach’ support service. The service supports adults with a learning disability, or mental health need and who in some instances have autism. There were ten people being supported 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 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
The registered manager and staff consistently applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensured that people using the service led a full a life as possible and achieved the best possible outcomes, that include, control, choice and independence. This was achieved as all staff worked closely with social and health care professionals to support people in moving into and between independent living services as part of their aspirations and goals towards greater independence. This was facilitated by a dedicated team of staff, with key skills in a range of areas, which enabled them to provide people with the appropriate support and care.
People’s individuality was recognised, celebrated and encouraged by staff, who had developed trusting relationships with people, based on mutual respect and understandings. Staff supported and encouraged people to take an active part within the local community and access a range of activities and services.
Staff worked in partnership with people to develop and review their support plans. Support plans reflected people’s aspirations and goals. They provided clear guidance for staff as to their role in supporting people to live an independent life as possible, and to be active. People’s individual communication needs were understood, and staff were able to communicate effectively with people. People were encouraged and supported to develop and maintain relationships.
Fenny Mews and Stratford View was led by a dedicated management team and staff who were passionate about the people they supported. The culture and ethos within the service was that of transparency, inclusivity and empowerment. The governance of the service was robust, and quality outcomes were kept under continual review by the registered manager and a dedicated team of staff in order to drive improvement. The service and individual members of staff had been nominated and had received internal and external awards in recognition of the quality of the support and they provided.
People were consulted and fully involved in decisions about potential risks to their health and welfare, and staff supported people to make informed decisions about risk. A positive approach to risk taking enabled people to develop their independent living skills safely, which included being responsible for their own medicine. People were involved in the robust recruitment process of staff.
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 1 August 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.