Background to this inspection
Updated
15 May 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team:
This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type:
Camden SLS provides personal care and support to people living in a 'supported living' service.
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 site visits because the location provides a domiciliary care service to people living in a ‘supported living’ service and we needed to be sure that they would be in.
Our inspection process commenced on 16 April 2019 and concluded on 23 April 2019. It included visiting the service's office, speaking to people who used the service and their relatives. We visited the office location on 16 April 2019 to see the registered manager and office staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures. As this was a 'supported living' service, we were able to speak to people in person. We visited people who used the service on 18 April 2019, and telephoned relatives and spoke to one person who used the service on 23 April 2019.
What we did:
Our inspection was informed by evidence we already held about the service. We also checked for feedback we received from members of the public and the local authority. The provider had completed a Provider Information Return. 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 spoke with three people who used the service. We observed interactions between people and staff.
We spoke with four care staff, the registered manager, the nominated individual, the community engagement officer, the positive behaviour support lead, and the coproduction and accessibility officer.
We reviewed five people's care records, five staff records including recruitment, training and supervision, and other records about the management of the service.
Following the inspection, we spoke to one person who used the service, three relatives and contacted healthcare professionals and the local authority.
We also reviewed documents sent to us by the provider following the inspection.
Updated
15 May 2019
About the service:
Camden SLS is registered to provide personal care and support to people with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder, physical disability, older people and younger adults living in a ‘supported living’ service.
This service provides care and support to people living in 12 ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible.
Not everyone using Camden SLS receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of this inspection, the service was providing personal care to 15 people.
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:
People and relatives told us staff ensured their safety and provided safe care.
People were protected from the risk of harm, abuse and neglect.
People were supported by suitable and enough staff who were knowledgeable about the risks associated with people's needs and how to provide safe care.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways: promotion of 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's needs were assessed before they started receiving care and they told us they received consistent and effective care.
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 by staff who received induction, training and regular supervision.
People and relatives told us staff were caring and provided care in a dignified way.
People received care without discrimination, and staff promoted their independence.
People told us the care was responsive to their needs.
People and relatives told us they knew how to raise concerns.
People's care plans were person-centred, accessible and regularly reviewed.
The provider had systems in place to support people with end of life care needs.
The provider had effective processes and systems in place to ensure the safety and quality of the service.
Rating at last inspection:
The service was registered by CQC on 13 September 2018. This is the service’s first inspection since its registration.
Why we inspected:
This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk