Interactive Development Support Limited

Updated 16 November 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check 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

The inspection was conducted by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Interactive Development Support provides care and support to people living in 17 ‘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

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 24 October 2019 and ended on 28 October 2019. We visited the office location on 24 October 2019.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we had received about Interactive Development Support since the last inspection. We contacted the local authority and other professionals, who work with the service for information. We used this to plan our inspection.

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.

During the inspection

With prior permission, we visited four people who used the service to speak with them about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with two relatives. We also spoke with staff, including support workers, service managers and the registered manager.

We reviewed three people’s care records. We looked at information regarding the management of the service which included six staff files and records related to the quality and safety of the service.

After the inspection

We emailed staff for their individual feedback and to ask questions about their skills and knowledge. We received 15 responses. We also received feedback from three local authority commissioners and a social worker.

Updated 16 November 2019

About the service:

Interactive Development Support is a supported living service. At the time of the inspection, staff provided support over a 24-hour period to 31 people living in their own homes. This included adults and children. People who used the service had a range of conditions affecting their physical and mental health including learning disabilities and autism.

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 has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

People felt very safe with support from attentive staff who knew them well. People’s care needs were thoroughly assessed, and measures were in place to reduce the risks they faced.

People were well cared for by trained and competent staff, who were supported by the registered manager to provide a reliable, high-quality and person-centred service. Staff were respectful towards people and their families and people’s privacy and dignity were upheld. Independence was encouraged, and people were involved in decision making.

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.

There was a good working relationship between staff and external professionals to ensure people received any additional support they needed, to experience positive outcomes. The service was flexible to meet people's changing needs and their wishes.

There had been a small number of complaints made about the service, which had been responded to promptly, to resolve matters. People and relatives were very pleased with the service.

The registered manager had implemented best practice into the service. There was good governance of the service with a strong quality assurance process in place.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 25 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about Interactive Development Support until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.