Background to this inspection
Updated
23 March 2021
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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in their own flats, within one building namely Pelham House, 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
This inspection was announced. 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 4 March 2021 and ended on 15 March 2021. We visited the office location on 4 March 2021 and 8 March 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was first registered, including notifications received from the provider. The law requires providers to send us notifications about certain events that happen during the running of a service. We sought feedback from the local authority, community professionals who work with the service and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We reviewed the provider’s website. 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with seven people who use the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff, including the registered manager, three senior staff, five staff and the service director.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records, medication records and daily notes. We looked at seven staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed, including the provider’s policies, procedures, quality assurance audits, accident and incident reports.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with five community professionals who engaged with the service. We spoke with relatives of five people who had limited verbal communication and six staff members who were unavailable on the days of our site visit.
Updated
23 March 2021
About the service
Creative Support Pelham House (Pelham House) is a supported living service, which can provide support for up to 16 people living with autism or learning disabilities, with associated needs. There were 16 people receiving support at the time of the inspection, living in their individual self-contained flats within Pelham House.
Not everyone who uses the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were protected from discrimination, neglect and avoidable harm by staff who understood their responsibilities to safeguard people from abuse. The registered manager supported people to understand what keeping safe means, and how to raise any concerns they may have. Risks to people's safety had been identified, assessed thoroughly and were managed safely by staff. Robust recruitment procedures ensured only staff assessed to be suitable to work with people living with autism or a learning disability were appointed. There were enough staff to provide care to meet people’s needs. Senior staff completed regular competency assessments and observations, to ensure staff administered medicines and delivered support safely in accordance with their training, current guidance and regulations. Safe infection, prevention and control practices were being followed by people and staff, including the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The registered manager and senior staff effectively operated a system of supervision, appraisal, training and competency assessments, which enabled staff to deliver high quality care. Where required, staff completed additional training to meet individual complex needs. People experienced a healthy, balanced diet of their choice, which protected them from the risks of malnutrition and dehydration. The registered manager ensured people were referred promptly to appropriate healthcare professionals whenever their needs changed.
People experienced good continuity and consistency of care from staff who were kind and compassionate. The registered manager had created an inclusive, family atmosphere within the service. People were relaxed and comfortable in the presence of staff who invested time to develop meaningful relationships with them.
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 these principles and values.
People were fully involved in decisions about their care and were supported to make choices. Staff understood how people communicated their needs and wishes and delivered care which respected people's likes and dislikes. People's care was centred around their needs by staff who supported them to engage in activities which enriched the quality of their life and had a positive impact on their well-being. Staff consistently treated people with dignity and respect and were sensitive to their needs regarding equality, diversity and their human rights.
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 were protected from the risks associated with social isolation and were supported by staff to maintain special relationships with friends and relatives. The provider investigated complaints to drive improvement of the service. Compliments and complaints illustrated honesty and transparency in the management of the service.
The service was well managed and well-led by the registered manager who provided clear and direct leadership, which inspired staff to provide good quality care. The safety and quality of support people received was effectively monitored and assessed. This ensured identified shortfalls were acted upon.
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 15 November 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on when the service was first registered with us.
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.