Background to this inspection
Updated
20 October 2018
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place on 10, 16, and 22 May, and 20 July 2018 and was carried out by one inspector. The provider was given 48 hours' notice because the location provides a supported living service and we needed to be sure that staff would be available.
Before the inspection we looked at all the information that we had about the service. This included information from notifications received by us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law. We also asked for feedback from representatives of a local authority contracts team, commissioners of the service, Healthwatch, and local safeguarding teams.
On the first day of the inspection we visited the provider’s office and visited one person in their own home. On the second day we received information from a commissioner of the service. On the third day we visited two people in their own home and spoke to three staff members. On the fourth day of the inspection we spoke on the telephone to one person’s relative and five staff members.
In total we spoke with three people who used the service and one person’s relative. We spoke with seven support workers, a team leader, two support managers, three service managers and the registered manager. We looked parts of the care records of five people, along with other records relevant to the running of the service. This included quality assurance audits, training information for staff and arrangements for managing complaints.
Updated
20 October 2018
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. At the time of this inspection care and support was provided to 39 people who live with a learning disability and who may have mental and physical health needs.
At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good overall, with the responsive domain being rated as outstanding. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This comprehensive, announced inspection took place on 10, 16, and 22 May, and 20 July 2018.
The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
People were supported by staff who were aware of their responsibilities in reducing the risk of harm occurring. Processes were in place to protect people from harm or poor care. Staff used equipment and technology to help promote people’s independence safely. Staff were only employed after satisfactory pre-employment checks had been obtained. There were sufficient staff to ensure people’s needs were met safely. Medicines were managed safely by trained and competent staff. The provider had effective procedures in place to support the prevention and control of infections. The provider had robust systems in place to manage accidents and incidents and lessons learned were shared across the organisation.
People's assessed needs were met effectively by staff who had the right training, knowledge and skills. Staff encouraged people to use technology to help keep them safe and promote their independence. People were enabled to access healthcare services and to eat and drink a healthy balanced diet and lead healthy lives. 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 supported and cared for with compassion, empathy and kindness. Staff treated people with dignity and respect. Staff empowered people to make their own choices about things that were important to them. Staff encouraged people to maintain and maximise their independence. People had access to information that was available in alternative formats to enable peoples’ understanding.
Staff supported people to maintain their links with the local community to promote and develop social inclusion. Staff used creative ways to help people maintain and develop their hobbies and interests. The registered manager and staff had an excellent understanding, and were very responsive to, each person's individual needs. Staff provided care that was person-centred and tailored to people’s individual needs. People's care arrangements took account of people's wishes and choices, including their likes and dislikes, what was important to them and any future goals. Staff were proactive in supporting people to develop and maintain relationships that were important to them.
People had access to the provider’s complaints policy and procedure that was provided in an appropriate format to support people’s communication needs. The provider had a process in place to receive and manage people's suggestions, concerns and/or compliments.
People had a say in how the service was run. People and their relatives were given opportunities to feedback on the quality of the service provided and felt listened to.
The registered manager provided good leadership. They and senior staff, made sure that the values of the service were embedded and promoted by staff. The provider’s governance, quality assurance systems and audits were effective in monitoring that the service complied with legislative requirements and promoted best practice. Staff worked in partnership with other professionals to ensure that people received joined-up care.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.