About the service Lennox Court is a supported living service providing personal care and support to six people living with a learning disability. The premises consist of six self-contained flats. There is an office which also serves as a room for staff who sleep-in at night.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider's systems were not consistently effective in providing the registered manager with clear oversight of risks. This meant they could not be assured all risks to people were effectively and consistently managed.
There were enough staff to care for people safely and people were receiving their medicines when they needed them. Staff understood the importance of monitoring incidents and accidents and there were robust systems to safeguard people from abuse. Staff followed safe procedures for prevention and control of infection.
Risks to people were assessed and managed in a way which balanced their safety and right to lead a non-restricted life. There were enough well-trained staff to ensure people were always supported safely. There was a relaxed, friendly and homely atmosphere at the service. Staff ensured people's needs were consistently met and assessed to enable improvements and progress in their lives.
There were effective systems for communication both at the service, and with other agencies to ensure people received the care they needed. Staff were proactive in ensuring people could access health care services and supported them to live healthier lives.
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. We observed staff had positive, sincere relationships with the people they supported.
Support plans were comprehensive and reflected people's views, wishes and aspirations. People were supported to communicate with their relatives and the managers when they were not happy or wanted to change their support.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right support:
• Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and independence. People were supported to live as independently as possible at a service which encouraged and inspired people to live full lives. People's properties were respected by staff as private dwellings which enabled them to have dignity and privacy whilst receiving support. Staff supported people to make choices and to remain connected with their family, friends and the local community.
Right care:
• Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. People were supported to lead full and active lives and to take part in activities that were meaningful to them.
Staff knew people well and we observed people treated with kindness, respect, and involved them in making decisions.
Right culture:
• Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives. Staff described a positive culture where learning was encouraged.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
This service was registered with us on 25 November 2019 and this is the first inspection. Previously this was one of many supported living sites the provider had registered under one supported living location. The provider has now registered each site as a separate location.
Why we inspected
This was the first planned inspection for this 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.