We carried out a review of the data available to us about Steppn-Stone Limited on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Steppn-Stone Limited, you can give feedback on this service.
Steppn–Stone Limited is a supported living service providing personal care to people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of the inspection three people were being supported.
People are supported in a house with a shared kitchen, lounge, two bathrooms and a communal garden. People have their own bedrooms; the provider operates from an office in the garden.
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.
There were deliberately no identifying signs at the house such as, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a supported living home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were safe, risk assessments were in place and reviewed regularly to ensure safe care continued. Staff were trained and could recognise signs of abuse and knew when and how to report it.
Staff were recruited safely, recruitment procedures ensured only suitable staff were employed. Medicines were managed safely. Specialist medicine training was in place where required and staff competencies were regularly checked. People were protected and supported to protect themselves from the spread of infection. Personal protective equipment such as gloves and aprons were readily available.
People received and were involved in planning personalised care, information was given in a format that met their communication needs. People's choices, lifestyle, religion and culture as well as their personal and health care needs were planned into care delivery. People were achieving positive outcomes.
People were supported to access health care services when needed and the staff and management team worked in partnership with healthcare professionals.
Staff were trained and had the skills needed to do their job. They received regular training updates and support and were well supervised.
People were supported to maintain a healthy diet and they chose, shopped for and were supported to prepare meals. An interest in healthy food was encouraged by growing foods in the garden.
Pre-admission assessments ensured people's needs could be met prior to them joining the service. A complaints procedure was in place and complaints were responded to in line with the company policy. The registered manager and staff had a good understanding of their responsibilities and were open and honest when things went wrong.
The registered manager had a hands-on approach and knew people well, this ensured a good oversight of the service and supported the documented quality monitoring processes in place.
There was a culture of learning and improvement, people and their relatives’ opinions on the service were listened to and the registered manager invested in the professional development of staff.
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 requires improvement (published 3 November 2018).
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.
This was the first comprehensive inspection of the service since it was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The service provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home 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. People currently using the service lived in a single ‘house in multi-occupation’ that could be shared by three people. Houses in multiple occupation are properties where at least three people in more than one household share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities.
At the time of our inspection, there were two people in receipt of personal care support. The service provides support to adults with learning disabilities.
Not everyone using Steppn-Stone Limited may receive regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided.
There was a registered manager in post, they were also the provider. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Improvements were required to the systems in place to ensure the effective governance and management of the service. The provider had not ensured that the necessary documentation was in place to provide staff with information on environmental risks that may be present. Audits had not identified gaps in the recording of medicines administered to people. Records relating to medicines stock levels were incomplete and did not allow this aspect of medicines to be audited effectively.
People told us that they felt comfortable and safe with staff. Relatives agreed their family members were supported in a safe way by the staff who were allocated to provide their support. Staff understood their responsibilities to keep people safe from harm and to report potential risks to their safety.
Staff recruitment procedures ensured that appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out to ensure only suitable staff worked at the service. Staffing levels ensured that people's care and support needs were safely met.
The provider worked with other organisations to ensure that people received coordinated and person-centred care and support.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were involved in their own care planning and were able to contribute to the way in which they were supported. Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect and spent time getting to know them and their specific needs and wishes.
Staff induction training and on-going training was provided to ensure that staff had the skills, knowledge and support they needed to perform their roles. Staff were well supported by the provider and had regular supervision meetings.
Staff told us they had the appropriate personal protective equipment to perform their roles safely. Staff supported people in a way which prevented the spread of infection.
The provider had a process in place which ensured people could raise any complaints or concerns.
There were arrangements in place for the provider to make sure that action was taken and lessons learned when things went wrong, to improve safety across the service.