Archived: HF Trust - Kent North DCA

Updated 27 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 inspection consisted on one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in four ‘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 and a second manager in the process of registering. 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 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. We also wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the 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 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 six people who used the services across two of the supported living settings. We spoke with one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including a registered manager, a manager, a senior support worker and support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication 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 quality assurance surveys and audits were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data. We received feedback from three professionals who visit the service.

Updated 27 September 2019

About the service

HF Trust Kent North DCA provides personal care to people living in their own homes and holding their own tenancy. It provides a supported living service to people who are living with a learning disability and/or autism. At the time of the inspection there were 26 people receiving personal care and support. These people lived at four addresses some of which were divided into flats and others were shared living arrangements within a large house. The shared homes had an office with a sleep-in room for staff.

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.

Three of the services were larger homes and one supported nine people. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was reduced by the building design fitting into the residential area. There were deliberately no identifying signs or anything else outside to indicate it was supported living accommodation. Staff didn’t wear anything that suggested they were support staff when coming and going with people. People chose who they lived with and had meaningful relationships with their house mates.

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

People were safe and happy in their homes and with the care and support they received. People received person centred care and support from support workers who were trained and competent. People enjoyed various activities and outings of their choosing and were enabled to have new experiences.

People were supported to stay well in line with their wishes. 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.

Staff were caring. People were respected, engaged in their support and involved in decisions around their care and support from choosing what they ate for dinner, what activities they did to having a voice in provider meetings.

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 in all areas of their lives

The quality and safety of the service was ensured by the provider. There was a positive, high quality and caring culture in the service led by the registered manager and other managers which achieved positive outcomes for people. Support workers told us it was a good place to work and they were well supported. All feedback was positive from people, relatives, health and social care professionals, and staff for all aspects 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 and update

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (published 30 August 2018) and there was one breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

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.