Background to this inspection
Updated
11 July 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 nine ‘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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a relatively small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
We visited the office location on 14 June 2019, met with nine people at two addresses on 17 June 2019 and followed this up with telephone calls to two relatives.
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 safeguarding team. 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 nine people who were supported by the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, team leaders and support workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple 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 policies and procedures were also reviewed.
Updated
11 July 2019
About the service
The Frances Taylor Foundation Liverpool Adult Services is a supported living service providing personal care to people living in their own homes. The service supports people who have learning disabilities and people who are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection the service supported 40 people living at nine addresses in the Liverpool area.
People lived in a variety of smaller and larger domestic-style properties, in which between three and six people lived. People’s homes were in keeping with the appearance of other properties in the area and had easy access to local amenities and transport. People shared the communal parts of their homes, such as living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms and all had their own bedrooms.
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
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. We noted the organisation’s vision, ‘Our vision is that people lead life to the full with their dignity respected, independence supported and uniqueness valued’, was also reflective of this guidance.
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.
People were protected from the risk of harm and abuse and the home ensured that only suitable staff were employed to work at the service. People were supported to take their medicines safely and as prescribed.
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.
All the people and relatives we spoke with told us the staff were caring and treated people well. One person said, “The staff are always there for us, we all get on great.” A relative commented, “[The staff] are wonderful, they think the world of [Relative].”
People’s care plans were person-centred and gave staff the information they needed to support people safely and in the ways they wanted. Staff supported people to keep up with and pursue their hobbies and interests. This included, when relevant, signposting and supporting people to access places of worship. People told us they felt comfortable raising any concerns and they were confident staff would address any issues raised.
There was a positive and caring culture amongst the staff at the service. Staff recognised people as individuals and treated them with dignity and respect. This included supporting people to live an ordinary life as any other person. The people we met were happy and content with the support they received from 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
The last rating for this service was good (published 14 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.