Background to this inspection
Updated
10 March 2020
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
This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, 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.
Inspection activity started on 18 December 2019 and ended on 23 December 2019. We visited the office location on 18 December 2019.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. 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 two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, assistant manager, operations manager, a senior care worker and a care worker.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two 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 reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
10 March 2020
About the service
SENSE - Supported Living Services (Holbeach) is a care agency providing personal care to six deafblind people some of whom may have learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder or a physical disability. The service was provided to people living at Morbey House, this is a development of four two bedroomed flats. There is an office on site as well as a small staff area.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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 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 was appropriate and inclusive for them.
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.
The provider had been using agency staff alongside their own employees to meet people’s needs. However, ongoing recruitment was reducing their reliance on agency staff. Recruitment processes ensured that staff were safe to work with people using the service. Staff received training and support which enabled them to provide safe care.
Staff had received training in keeping people safe from abuse and knew how to raise concerns. However, the way transport for the service was organised may not meet everybody’s needs.
We have recommended that the provider reviewed people’s transport needs.
Risks to people were identified, assessed and care was planned to keep people safe. This included risks associated with the management of medicines and infection control. Where incidents did occur, action was taken to reduce the risk of similar events reoccurring.
People’s health needs were monitored, and healthcare advice and support were accessed when needed.
People were offered choices in their everyday lives and people were supported to plan their weekly menu and to participate in the preparation of their meals. Where people had specific communication needs care plans recorded their preferred method of communication to ensure their choices were understood.
The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided and to take action to resolve any concerns they identified. A survey to gather the views of people using their service and their relatives had not been completed but the registered manager was always available to listen to concerns. Relatives were not always sure about the benefits moving to a supported living service could offer their family member. The provider told us they would continue to work with families to ensure people were able to take advantages of opportunities offered to them.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 3 December 2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on registration of the service.
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.