Background to this inspection
Updated
21 January 2022
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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in two ‘supported living’ settings and people living in an extra care setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. 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. A registered manager and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. At the time of the inspection the registered manager was working alongside the previous registered manager who was returning to work at the service.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and we wanted to be sure the registered manager would be available at the office.
Inspection activity started on 15 December 2021 and ended on 21 December 2021. We visited the office location on 15 December and one of the supported living houses on 16 December 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we held about the service including notifications and contacts with the service over the last year. 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 two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff, including the two registered managers, one team leader and two support workers. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records, medicines records, three staff files, quality assurance records and staff training records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with four relatives of people using the service and five more members of staff (care coordinator, team leader and three support workers) by telephone.
Updated
21 January 2022
About the service
North London and Herts Community Support is a supported living service providing personal care to people with a learning disability. This service provides care and support to people living in two 'supported living' settings and people living in an ‘extra care’ setting, so that they can live in their own home 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. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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.
At the time of inspection, seven people were receiving personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People had support to follow their own chosen lifestyles and daily routines. Staff supported them with their health needs, personal care needs and supported them to improve their independence.
Relatives were satisfied that their loved ones received good care and were happy with this service.
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.
Staff were trained to deliver care and support and had received training that reflected the needs of the people they were supporting. We observed staff interacting with people. People were comfortable around staff and staff were aware of people’s individual communication styles.
The service worked well with health and care professionals to meet people's care needs. Medicines were managed safely.
The provider had an effective system in place to check that the service was running safely and meeting people’s needs. The registered manager was committed to continuous learning, aware of improvements needing to be made and had planned to ensure these improvements were made. There was an open culture in the service where people were happy to make suggestions and raise concerns and where staff enjoyed working.
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.
Right support:
• People were given choice and control in a supported way. For example, staff observed people to see what was important to them and offered a choice of new activities to see what people liked and disliked.
Right care:
• The management team were committed to delivering person-centred care and were planning to train staff to ensure a more person centred service was established.
Right culture:
• Staff formed relationships with people they supported and encouraged them to make decisions for themselves.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
This service was registered with us on 11/12/2019 and this is the first 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.