Background to this inspection
Updated
14 February 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
RNIB CLS provides personal care to people either living in their own independent accommodation or in one of the service’s supported living properties. 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 provider 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was to enable the registered manager to speak with the people using the service and arrange for us to meet at a time and place that was convenient for them.
Inspection site visit activity started on 3 December 2018 and ended on 30 January when we completed our telephone interviews with relatives of people
What we did
We reviewed the information we held about the service. This included the previous inspection report, action plans and notifications. Notifications are changes, events and incidents that the service must inform us about. We used information the provider sent us in their Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
We visited the office location to see the registered manager, meet with staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures. We reviewed four people’s care records, three staff files around staff recruitment, training and supervision. Records relating to the management of the home and a variety of policies and procedures developed and implemented by the provider were also reviewed.
We spent two days on site, during which we spoke individually with 12 people who used the service and interviewed five members of staff, including the registered manager. Following the inspection visits, we made follow-up telephone calls to six relatives to gain their view of the service.
Updated
14 February 2019
About the service
RNIB Domiciliary Community Living Service - Redhill (RNIB CLS) provides personal care to people either living in their own independent accommodation or in one of the service’s supported living properties. The service offers specialist support to adults with visual impairment or sight loss. People may also have additional learning disabilities, emotional or mental health needs. RNIB CLS supports people across a range of locations; at the time of our inspection, the service was providing the regulated activity of personal care to 17 people across three locations. CQC does not regulate the premises used for supported living; this inspection only looked at people’s personal care and support.
People’s experience of using this service
People were now being supported to live more independently and develop their skills. The management team had worked hard to engage more effectively with people and their representatives and develop the service 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 to ensure that people with learning disabilities or autism can live as ordinary a life as any citizen. The service was becoming better in its mission to provide bespoke support to people living with visual impairment or sight loss.
A real focus on the recruitment of permanent staff now enabled people to be supported by a regular team of staff that they trusted and who knew and understood their needs. Appropriate employment checks were carried out to ensure staff were vetted prior to appointment. Staff received induction and ongoing training and support to enable them to carry out their roles effectively.
Comprehensive assessments and care plans provided the basis of personalised care and ensured that staff supported people safely and in accordance with their needs and preferences. Risks to people were identified and managed in a way that balanced their safety with their right to freedom.
Staff facilitated opportunities for people to engage in a range of meaningful activities and work towards goals which were personal to them. People were encouraged and supported to lead active and healthy lifestyles.
Staff were kind and compassionate and people enjoyed relationships with them that were fun and inclusive. The management team championed people’s rights and worked collaboratively with each other and external partners to constantly improve the service.
Rating at last inspection
Requires Improvement (16/01/2018)
Why we inspected
This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating. We inspect all services rated as 'Requires improvement' every 12 months to ensure that we regularly monitor and review the quality and safety of the service people receive. At the last inspection we found that some people were not able to live fulfilling lives that enabled them to reach their full potential. We also identified that management and governance systems needed to be further strengthened and embedded to ensure the service was able to consistently deliver high quality and specialist support to people living with a visual impairment. At this inspection, we saw that improvements had been made to the service people received since our last inspection. We found that people’s support was not more personalised and they had greater opportunities to participate in activities that were meaningful and developed their independence.
Follow up
We will continue to engage with the provider and monitor the progress they are making against their own development plan.