Background to this inspection
Updated
22 November 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: One inspector carried out this inspection.
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. At the time of the inspection, 2 people were receiving a service.
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 site visit, because it is small and the manager may have been out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.
What we did before the inspection: 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 four members of staff including the registered manager, and operational manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included 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.
Updated
22 November 2019
About the service: 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. At the time of the inspection, 2 people were receiving a 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:
People received safe care. Risk assessments covered all areas of risk and staff knew how to keep people safe from harm. Staff had received training in infection control and had access to personal protective equipment. People were supported to take their medicine in a safe way.
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.
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 received effective care from a small team of trained staff. People told us they were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and that staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. Staff supported people to maintain a healthy diet in line with their assessed needs and was supported to access health care if this was needed.
Staff were kind and caring and had developed positive relationships with people. Staff understood the importance of respecting people’s privacy dignity and independence.
Assessments and support plans were in place identifying what was important to people and how people needed to be supported. The support people received was centred around them and they were involved in any decisions made. The provider had a complaint process which people were aware of to share any concerns. Policies were in place relating to end of life care, however some staff needed training in this topic. We have made a recommendation about end of life care.
The service was well managed. The registered manager was approachable, and people knew them well. Spot checks and audits were completed to ensure the quality of the service was maintained. There was a strong value base to ensure that workers were caring and compassionate. Everyone spoke positively about the service and the quality of the support being provided.
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 24 April 2011 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected: This was a planned comprehensive inspection
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.