Background to this inspection
Updated
7 August 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 was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Liberty Lodge is a supported living service. People receive accommodation and personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Liberty Lodge provides personal care and support to people with a range of needs. The service is provided in one house, where up to four people live independently, and have their own tenancy agreements for the rooms they occupy.
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. The registered manager was given notice as it is a small service where people generally go out daily.
What we did before 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 the four people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, the provider and two care staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records, which included care plans, risk assessments, daily care records and medicines records for one person. We looked at one staff file in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including a sample of audits, health and safety checks, accidents and policies and procedures.
Updated
7 August 2019
About the service
Liberty Lodge is a support living service providing accommodation and personal care to four people with a learning disability and a range of needs. The service is provided in one house, where up to four people live independently, and have their own tenancy agreements for the rooms they occupy. The same four active males continued to live in the service.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People enjoyed living at the service and had done for a number of years. The staff team were committed to enhancing people’s self-worth and well-being. People were living fulfilled lives and had been able to achieve things for the first time including life skills, taking part in activities and going abroad on holiday. Relatives told us of the improvements in people’s quality of life because of the support provided by the staff at Liberty Lodge.
People’s safety had been promoted and potential risks posed to people had been reduced. Staff understood their responsibilities about safeguarding and had been appropriately trained. People’s safety in the event of an emergency had been considered. Equipment was serviced and maintained. People if required received their medicines safely as prescribed by their doctor.
Staff support was planned in conjunction with people taking into account their social activities. Staff continued to be recruited safely following the provider’s policy and procedure.
People’s care centred around their needs and preferences. Staff treated each person with compassion and kindness, and continuously used feedback to improve the service.
Staff felt there was an open culture where their views were listened to and respected. Staff felt supported in their role by the management team and received guidance when needed. The registered manager worked alongside the care staff to support them and observe practice.
Staff had been trained to meet people’s needs and worked well together to ensure people received joined up 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 and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
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.
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 Good (published 06 December 2016).
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.