United Response - Felpham DCA

Updated 27 June 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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

This inspection was completed by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type:

United Response – Felpham DCA is registered to support people living with a learning disability in supported living accommodation and extra care setting. 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 five days' notice of the inspection site visit because we needed to be sure that people using the service and their support staff would be in. Inspection activity started on the 5 June 2019 and ended on 11 June 2019. On 5 June 2019 we visited the main office and supported living accommodation to speak with staff, people and review records. On 7 June 2019, we visited the extra care setting to speak with staff and people. On 5, 6, 10 and 11 June 2019 we contacted people, relatives and staff by telephone to gain their feedback.

What we did:

Before the inspection, we reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse and accident and incidents. We sought feedback from the local authorities who commission services from the provider and professionals who work with the service. 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 any improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection we spoke with seven people, two members of staff and the registered manager. We gained feedback from five staff members and two relatives via telephone after the inspection.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people's care plans, risk assessments and medicine records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service and a variety of policies and procedures developed and implemented by the provider.

Updated 27 June 2019

About the service:

United Response – Felpham DCA is registered to provide personal care to people living with learning disabilities in supported living and extra care accommodation. Six people received care and support in two supported living bungalows that were next door to one another while six people received care and support in an extra care setting. Accommodation is based in the Felpham and Rustington area. The personal care and/or support people receive is regulated by the Care Quality Commission, but their accommodation is not. At the time of this inspection 12 people were receiving the regulated activity.

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.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways; promotion of choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People’s experience of using this service:

People and their relatives were positive about the care and support provided. People lived independent and meaningful lives. The ethos, visions and values of the service were embedded into every day practice.

People told us they felt safe receiving care from United Response – Felpham DCA. Staff recognised the importance of leaving people’s flats safe and secure. Medicines were administered by trained and competent staff and staff were aware of procedures to follow to prevent and control the spread of infection. People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Privacy and dignity were promoted and respected at all times. With pride, staff told us how they supported people to pursue their individual dreams, hobbies and interests.

People's needs were fully assessed and regularly reviewed. Care and support were person-centred, people enjoyed good outcomes and quality of life. Staff were well trained and knowledgeable about the needs and wishes of the people they supported. Where people were unable to make decisions about their care, the provider followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Supporting people to maintain their health and well-being was a key focus of the service.

Staff and the registered manager worked well with external healthcare professionals to promote good outcomes for people. For people living with complex care needs, staff promoted partnership working with healthcare professionals to ensure people received regular care and medicine reviews.

Staff upheld people’s human rights and people were supported to attend their local church. Staff encouraged people to learn new skills and maintain their independence. There were effective systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service provided.

Information about how to make a complaint was available to people and their families, and they felt confident that any complaint would be addressed by the management. People, relatives and staff told us that the registered manager was supportive, approachable and hands on.

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection in July 2016, the service was rated Good (13 September 2016).

Why we inspected:

This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

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