Background to this inspection
Updated
8 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.
Inspection team
One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in a number of ‘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.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 one person who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the provider, registered manager and care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. 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 looked at training data and quality assurance records. We sought feedback from four professionals and received comments from two.
Updated
8 January 2022
About the service
MT Supported Living is a 'supported living' service that provides support packages for people with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. Supported living is the name given to support to people who either live in their own homes, either through a tenancy with a housing provider, or live in their own homes through ownership or shared ownership with a housing association.
Not everyone who uses the service receives the regulated activity of 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 the inspection two people were receiving a regulated activity at two addresses.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were kept safe from abuse and harm, and staff knew how to report any suspicions concerning abuse. The service had systems to report and investigate concerns. Risk assessments identified how potential risks should be managed to reduce the likelihood of people experiencing harm. Staff understood the risks to people and delivered safe care in accordance with people's support plans. There were enough staff to keep people safe and meet their needs. Robust recruitment processes aimed to ensure only suitable staff were selected to work with people.
Each staff member had received induction and training to enable them to meet people's needs effectively. We saw that supervision meetings for staff were held regularly and staff felt supported by the management to perform their role.
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 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. People were involved in decisions about their care and supported to make choices about their day to day living. The culture of the service promoted independence, choices and empowerment for the people living in the service. Staff had a good understanding of how people communicated their needs and wishes and respected people's likes and dislikes. People's care was focused around their needs and staff supported people to engage in activities in the service and outside in the community.
People's care plans were person-centred and focused on what was important to people. Care plans were regularly reviewed, and people and their relatives were involved in the reviews. People felt they were treated with kindness and said their privacy and dignity were always respected.
The registered manager and staff demonstrated a commitment to people and displayed strong person-centred values. People's choices were respected, and staff supported them to achieve good outcomes. Audit systems were in place to monitor the standard of support people received. Measures to assess improvements and continuous learning were in place.
The service worked in partnership with other health and social care organisations to achieve better
outcomes for people using 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:
This service was registered with us on 10/07/2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection as this new service had been registered since 2020.
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.