We carried out a review of the data available to us about Lifeways Community Care (South London) on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Lifeways Community Care (South London), you can give feedback on this service.
Lifeways Community Care (South London) (South London) provides care and support to people living in their own flats or houses in various supported living settings. 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.
At the time of this inspection 33 people were using the service, many of whom had a learning disability, autism, complex health or communication needs. Not everyone using Lifeways Community Care (South London) receives 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 take into account any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
Right Culture:
Some records held by the service required improvement. This included information around how people liked to take their medicines. Following our inspection however, the registered manager was able to provide us with evidence to address some of the shortfalls we found.
Some staff did not always feel supported by their manager or senior management and they felt isolated in their roles. The registered manager had identified this as an issue previously and was working to address this.
Right Support:
Despite a large number of staff being employed by the service, some people told us they were not always supported to go out as much as they wished. People said they used to access the community more than they do now. Although we did receive positive feedback as well and saw that some people had active lives. We have issued a recommendation to the provider in this respect.
Some people were not always provided with the opportunity to be involved in the day to day running of their supported living service through tenants meetings.
Right Care:
People were happy with the way staff prepared their meals and drinks and they told us they chose what they wished to eat and drink.
People felt safe in the hands of Lifeways Community Life (South London) carers. They said staff looked after them well and made them feel confident that they would be at a reduced risk of harm.
People said staff were kind and caring. They had good relationships with staff and had built up a good rapport.
Staff received the training they required and were given the opportunity to meet with their line manager through supervision. Staff had undergone infection control training and there were no concerns in this respect.
People were supported to access healthcare professional input when needed and staff worked with other agencies to help provide the most appropriate care to people.
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.
People had support plans in place which recorded specific information about them to help staff provide the most appropriate care.
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 the service at the previous premises was Good, published 4 October 2018.
Why we inspected
We inspected this service as, following the last inspection, the service registered with us at a new location.
Enforcement and Recommendations
We have also made a recommendation to the provider in relation to staff deployment.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.