Background to this inspection
Updated
8 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 ‘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 CQC. 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.
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure someone would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started and ended on 24 January 2020.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection, we looked at the information we held about the service. This information included statutory notifications the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.
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 also contacted local authority commissioners and asked them for their views about the service. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
During our visit to the registered office we spoke with the registered manager, and two team managers. We contacted two staff by telephone. We looked at three people’s care records and a selection of medication and medication administration (MARs). We looked at other records including quality monitoring records, recruitment and training records for three staff and other records relating to the management of the service. We spoke over the telephone with three family members.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at rotas and some team meeting minutes.
Updated
8 February 2020
About the service
Lifeways Inclusive Lifestyles Ltd provides personal care and support to adults living in their own houses and flats in the community.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were protected from avoidable harm and abuse. Relatives told us they felt their family member was safe and well protected. There were enough staff on duty with the right mix of skills to support people safely and effectively. Staff were recruited and selected safely. Medications were safely managed, administered and stored. Infection control and prevention was managed well. Incidents, accidents and near misses were recorded and monitored to ensure there was opportunity for lessons learned.
People were assessed before they used Lifeways by the registered manager, and their outcomes and choices were recorded and monitored to ensure consistency and good practice. Staff were supported and supervised, trained, and suitably skilled to meet the requirements of their role. People were supported by staff to have sufficient food and fluid intake throughout the day and night. There was a clear process for referring people to external services were required and this was applied consistently to ensure care was safe. People lived in their own homes in the community, and were supported to live at home safely by Lifeways. The service fully met and complied with the principles of the MCA and no one was being unlawfully deprived of their liberty.
Staff treated people with respect, kindness, equality and dignity. Relatives spoke positively about the staff. People were included as much as possible in their day to decision making and choices. People’s privacy and independence was encouraged, family relationships and friendships were respected and promoted.
A personalised care plan was developed for each person with their involvement or with their family members involvement if appropriate. Care plans included people’s individual preferences and interests. The service actively encouraged and supported people to communicate in a style which was relevant for them, fully considering their equality needs. People’s interests and chosen activities were prioritised by staff. There was a complaints process in place which outlined response times and procedure. End of life care was discussed sensitively and with care and compassion.
The registered manager promoted a positive ethos and culture, which was centred around personalisation and inclusion. The registered manager and provider understood their responsibility to inform people when care fell short or did not meet expected standards. Risks to people’s health, safety and wellbeing was effectively managed through ongoing monitoring of the service. The registered manager had a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities in line with regulatory requirements. The service was open and inclusive and fully considered people’s equality needs. There were effective systems in place for checking and improving the quality and safety of the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The service was last rated good. (Report Published June 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection in line with the last 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.