Background to this inspection
Updated
1 March 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
An Expert by Experience made calls to relatives. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in two ‘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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
We visited the location’s office/service on 07 February; as well as one of the supported living sites.
What we did before the inspection
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager, the team leader and four care workers. We reviewed four people’s care files and other records relating to the management of the service.
We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.
After the inspection
We received feedback from three professionals that worked with the service. We also reviewed evidence that the provider had submitted to us electronically, such as policies, staff files and audits.
Updated
1 March 2022
About the service
Richmond Community Support is a supported living service providing personal care to people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders and physical disabilities. The service provides support to up to 12 people across two residential sites. At the time of our inspection there were 10 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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: Staff supported people to maximise their choices, including what they liked to do and how they liked to be cared for. People were supported to be as independent as possible in their day to day tasks and where they wished to do so.
Right care: Staff treated people with dignity and respect, with relatives feeling their loved ones were well cared for. People received personalised care which had a positive impact on their lives and was responsive to their individual needs.
Right culture: The service had a positive, open culture that was led by a responsive and knowledgeable registered manager. This supported people to makes choices as to how they wished to live their lives.
We identified that updates were required to some risk assessments and PRN [as required] medicines protocols. The provider submitted updates to us immediately after the inspection.
People were supported in a safe environment, by staff that were able to manage any potential risks well. Staff were safely recruited, and the provider responded to any incidents or accidents as they occurred. Staff recognised the signs of abuse and knew how to report any concerns. Infection control measures were effective in reducing the risk of infection and the premises were clean and well kept.
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 received regular training that was relevant to their role. They were supported through supervision and appraisal. People were well supported to access other healthcare professionals when they needed to. Where people needed supported to eat and drink this was done so in line with their presenting needs.
People were supported to be as independent as they could be and were supported to live their day to day lives as they chose to. Complaints and concerns were appropriately responded to. Where appropriate, people were supported to express their end of life wishes.
The registered manager led by example and supported an open culture at the home, that enabled an inclusive environment for all. Quality checks were consistent and the registered manager was clear on their responsibilities. Relatives, staff and other professionals were positive about the impact management had on the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was good (published 22 August 2019). This previous inspection was carried out at the location’s previous address.
Why we inspected
This inspection was the providers first, since they re-registered with the Care Quality Commission.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Richmond Community Support on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.