Aspire Support Ltd

Updated 11 August 2022

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.

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in five '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 registered 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We announced the inspection a few days in advance to ensure that people would give us permission to visit them in their home. Before we visited the supported living settings, we discussed infection control processes for people, staff and inspectors, with reference to COVID-19

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received about the service since their registration

We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We visited the registered office and met with the director, registered manager and deputy manager.

On another day we visited one person in their own home. We spoke with two support staff and the deputy manager.

We reviewed two peoples care records. We looked at staff records in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service and quality monitoring systems.

We spoke with two relatives about their experience of the service. We received six emails from health and social care professionals regarding their experience of the service. We also received two emails from staff and spoke with one staff member on the phone.

Updated 11 August 2022

About the service

Aspire Support Limited is registered both as a domiciliary care agency and a supported living service. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes, and to people living in a 'supported living' setting, so they can live as independently as possible. The service started providing care to people in their own homes in February 2022 and this is the first inspection of the service.

People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual arrangements. The CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's care and support.

Not everyone using the service received a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people who are provided with the regulated activity of 'personal care', for example which includes help with tasks such as personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided. People using the service who received personal care lived in two Supported Living settings.

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 underpinning principles of “Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture".

Right support

The model of care and setting maximised people's choice, control and independence. The supported living services had good access to the local community and amenities.

The supported living services are staffed by a deputy manager and dedicated small staff team who know people well. Staff supported people to make choices about their daily lives and engage in activities, that were tailored to their individual needs and promoted their independence. People were supported to maintain and develop relationships

People are 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 recruited safely. The staff team had the appropriate levels of knowledge and skills to support people and responded to their individual needs and choices. Staff were supported by a system of induction, training, supervisions, appraisals and staff meetings.

People received their medicines in a safe way and were protected from abuse and neglect. People’s care plans and risk assessments were clear and up to date.

Right care:

People received good quality person-centred care that promoted their dignity, privacy and human rights. People were involved in decisions about their care and support and staff empowered people to communicate what they wanted. Staff were observed talking to people in dignified and respectful way.

There was a strong person-centred culture within the staff team. Positive behaviour support plans had been developed for people, to help staff understand the reasons for their behaviour, and provide guidance to ensure consistent approaches were used when supporting them. Staff knew people well and demonstrated an understanding of their individual care, behavioural and communication needs. This helped ensure people’s views were heard and their diverse needs met.

Right culture:

The ethos, values, and attitudes of management and care staff ensured people led confident, inclusive and empowered lives. Staff created an environment that inspired people achieve their goals and ambitions.

People lived as they wished and staff supported people to do the things they enjoyed.

People, relatives and staff told us management were approachable and they listened to them when they had any concerns or ideas. All feedback was used to make continuous improvements to the service.

Cleaning and infection control procedures had been updated in line with COVID-19 guidance to help protect people, visitors and staff from the risk of infection. Government guidance about COVID-19 testing for people, staff and visitors was being followed.

For more information, please read the detailed findings section of this report. If you are reading this as a separate summary, the full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 27 November 2020 but did not provide a regulatory activity until February 2022. This is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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.

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.