Symbiosis House

Updated 28 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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in nine ‘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 15 December 2021 and ended on 07 January 2022. We visited the office location on 07 January 2022.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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 relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, activity staff and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s care records and medication records. We looked at four 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.

Updated 28 January 2022

About the service

Symbiosis House is a supported living scheme providing personal care and support to people who may be living with a mental health condition, a learning disability, autism, acquired brain injury, personality disorder and complex mental health issues with behaviour that challenges. At the time of inspection 13 people were living at the service but only one person was in receipt of regulated activity.

The scheme has several properties which support people to live independently. Each property provides a shared kitchen area, shared lounge and dining space, a bedroom and bathroom.

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. The service was supporting one person with personal care at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Relatives told us they felt that people were safe and were supported well by the staff team. Staff were knowledgeable of the needs of people and understood how to keep them safe. Safeguarding polices and processes were in place.

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.

Risks to people were assessed and reviewed regularly. Measures had been put in place to address identified risk. Families told us they had been involved in the assessment process.

Relatives spoke positively about the service. A relative told us, “We are really happy with the care. We see [Family member] returning to the person they useD to be. We are very pleased with how things are.”

People received support from staff who were trained in areas of care relevant to their needs. Relatives told us staff were kind and friendly and used their training appropriately to provide positive support.

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.

Based on our review of the service and records the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. The values of the management and staff supported people to lead confident and inclusive lives, developing skills of independence.

There were sufficient suitably skilled staff to meet the needs of people safely. A robust recruitment and induction process was in place which staff felt prepared them for their role.

Staff had received training in the safe administration and handling of medicine. Their knowledge and practice had been observed and checked by senior staff.

Quality assurance processes were in place to identify areas requiring improvement. A service improvement plan was in place to support driving improvements and development.

Staff enjoyed their role and were passionate about providing good quality care. One staff member told us, “I enjoy helping and encouraging people to learn new skills and become independent.” Another staff member said, “It is a nice place to work. Seeing people happy and settled is rewarding.”

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 22 July 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection as a newly registered service.

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.