Background to this inspection
Updated
27 July 2019
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 ten ‘supported living’ settings, 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 28 June 2019 and ended on 01 July 2019. We visited the office location on 01 July 2019 and visited people in their own homes on the 28 July 2019.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included notifications the provider had sent to us as required by law. 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 five people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of care staff, the registered manager, three home leaders and the service director.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care and medicine records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the monitoring and management of the service were looked at.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We received further information from the registered manager to help inform our judgements.
Updated
27 July 2019
About the service
Creative Support Stoke-on- Trent provides personal care to 32 people at the time of the inspection. The service supports people who have a learning disability and may also have physical disabilities.
There were ten individual houses/bungalows that people lived in and each home accommodated no more than four people. Staff supported people with their personal care needs and people were supported to access the community. Within each home there was a separate office and staff were available 24 hours a day including a member of staff throughout the night.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were supported by safely recruited staff, who had the skills and knowledge to provide effective support. Staffing levels were regularly reviewed to ensure there were enough staff available to meet people’s needs. People’s medicines were managed, and staff followed infection control procedures.
Effective care planning and risk management was in place which guided staff to provide support that met people’s needs and in line with their preferences. 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 supported to access healthcare professionals and advice received was followed by staff. There were systems in place to ensure people received consistent care and support.
People were supported by caring staff who promoted choices in a way that people understood, this meant people had control and choice over their lives. Staff provided dignified care and respected people’s privacy. People’s independence was promoted by staff.
People were involved in the planning and review of their care. Staff followed care plans to ensure they provided support in line with people’s wishes and diverse needs. People’s communication needs were met, and information was provided in a way that promoted people’s understanding. There was a complaints system in place which people understood.
Systems were in place to monitor the service, which ensured people’s risks were mitigated and lessons were learnt when things went wrong. People and staff could approach the registered manager who acted on concerns raised to make improvements to the delivery of care. Staff and management were committed to providing a good standard of care, which was focused on positive outcomes for people.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (report published 14 October 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating. The service continued to be rated Good in all domains.
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.