Archived: Bristol Supported Living

Updated 6 September 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. 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

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. 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 announced. We gave the service 48 hours' notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service including registration assessments reports. The provider sent us their 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

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, two service managers and four carers. We reviewed a range of records which included three people's care records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

Updated 6 September 2019

About the service

Bristol Supported Living is a domiciliary care agency. The service provides personal care and support for people with learning disabilities who lived in their own homes. Not everyone using Bristol Supported Living receives the regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; 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 three people were receiving support with personal care.

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 we spoke with were happy with the care they received. People told us the care workers were professional and they were happy with how the service was run.

The provider's recruitment procedures were designed to ensure staff were suitable for the role. Staff members were not permitted to work with people until the necessary recruitment checks had been undertaken and were satisfactory.

Staff had access to training that was appropriate to their role. Staff had attended safeguarding training and knew who to contact if they had any safeguarding concerns.

People's needs were assessed prior to receiving a service including the protected characteristics under the Equalities Act. Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Care plans were personalised and individualised. Care staff had the necessary guidance about the support each person required and how people preferred to be cared for. Individual risks to people and the environment had been identified. Risk assessments were in place to help minimise the risk of harm occurring.

People and relatives told us people were treated with dignity and respect. They were positive about the staff and said they had a caring and kind attitude .

At the time of our inspection the provider had received no complaints. However, the provider had systems for handling complaints and responding to incidents and accidents which they said they would follow if these occurred.

The service was well led. Communication encouraged people and their relatives to share their views and the provider undertook a range of audits to check on the quality of care provided.

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 17 January 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 the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.