Wilmslow Supported Living Network

Updated 6 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

This 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 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.

The inspection activity started on 14 June 2019 and ended on 28 June 2019. We visited the office location on 14 June 2019.

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 this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection.

During the inspection we spoke with six people who used the service and with two relatives over the telephone. We also spoke with several staff including the registered manager, the

operations manager, three senior workers and five support staff.

We looked at documentation relating to the management of the service, including four care plans of people using the service, two staff personnel files, staff training and supervision records, complaints, accidents and incidents, policies and procedures, and safeguarding records.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager who provided additional information including staff training data.

Updated 6 September 2019

About the service

Wilmslow Supported Living Network is managed by Cheshire East Council and is registered to provide personal care to people living in supported living accommodation. The registered provider supports adults with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders and supports them to live as independently as possible as tenants in their own homes.

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’s experience of using this service and what we found

People using the service received planned and co-ordinated person-centred care and support that met their needs and helped them to live a fulfilled lifestyle. People told us how they enjoyed opportunities to gain new skills and become more independent and we could see how this had resulted in positive outcomes for them.

People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. Improvements were made during the inspection regarding consent to care to ensure peoples’ rights are always upheld in accordance with the law.

People were safe. Risk was managed proportionately, enabling people to live as independent lives as possible. Effective safeguarding systems, policies and procedures ensured people were safe and protected from abuse. Safeguarding concerns were responded to and managed effectively.

There was enough suitably trained and experienced staff who had good relationships with the people who used the service.

New staff were recruited safely and received induction training before they could provide care and support. Staff benefited from ongoing training including the nationally recognised care certificate which had been introduced since our last inspection.

Managers and staff knew the people who used the service well. They understood and respected their needs, wishes and worked effectively to enable them to live healthy lifestyles and achieve their goals and aspirations.

People received appropriate levels of support with their medication to ensure they were safe and their independence promoted. Medicines were managed safely and only given by staff who were trained to do so.

People were supported to maintain a balanced diet and were able to access health care services as and when needed.

Morale amongst the staff team was high. Staff told us that they appreciated support, guidance and direction of the management team and all without exception said they were proud to be associated with the service and the standard of care and support provided.

The management team had worked effectively to make improvements in the service identified at our last inspection. They demonstrated a commitment to provide person-centred, high quality care by engaging with everyone using the service and stakeholders. A range quality audits we carried out and we saw that actions were identified and addressed to make continuous improvements.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 15 June 2018) and there was a breaches of regulation on Good Governance . 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.

Enforcement

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements regarding consent to care. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

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.