Background to this inspection
Updated
2 April 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 team consisted of one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ arrangement in one house. 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 5th March 2020. We also planned to visit people in their home but due to the coronavirus guidelines we were unable to visit the home in person.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since they registered with the Care Quality Commission. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager and reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s care record, and elements of two other people’s care plans. We looked at one staff file 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 spoke with four people over the telephone who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with a member of care staff. We contacted relatives for feedback and heard back from two. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data.
Updated
2 April 2020
About the service
Thistledown Supported Living is registered to provide personal care and support for five people sharing a house. Each person has their own tenancy agreement. A tenancy agreement states people’s rights and responsibilities about their accommodation.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe. Medicines were managed safely. Staff were recruited safely, and there were enough staff to take care of people. Support plans and risk assessments detailed what care and support people needed to reduce risk to them.
Staff received appropriate training, a plan was in place to ensure training was kept up to date. Staff were supported by the registered manager. People’s needs were assessed, and outcomes recorded. People’s choices were respected, including food and drink. The service worked with other health care professionals.
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.
People told us staff were kind and caring. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems at the service supported this practice. People told us staff treated them with dignity and respect, they were involved with the planning of their care and their views were listened to.
There was a complaints procedure and people knew how to complain. Peoples likes, and dislikes were recorded in people’s support plan and staff knew people and their preferences well. People’s communication needs were in their plans. People had a good range of activities in place which they enjoyed.
The registered manager understood the regulatory requirements.
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.
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 01/04/2019 and this was the first inspection.
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection in line with our inspection methodology.
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.