Archived: Milton Keynes Supported Living Service

Updated 29 May 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 06 January 2015 and was announced. We gave 48 hours’ notice to ensure the availability of staff, people who used the service and the registered manager.

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We checked the information we held about the service and the service provider. No concerns had been raised and the service met the regulations we inspected against at their last inspection which took place on 28 November 2013.

During our inspection we observed how staff interacted with people who used the service. We looked at how people were supported to keep their independence, to have meals and access activities of their choice.

We spoke with five people and the relatives of three people who used the service. We also spoke with the registered manager and five staff.

We reviewed four care records, four medication records, three staff files and records relating to the management of the service, such as quality audits.

Updated 29 May 2015

The inspection took place 06 January 2015 and it was announced.

Milton Keynes Supported Living Service provides a domiciliary support service to enable adults with learning disabilities to live independently in their own home. This agency provides support services to adults living in the Milton Keynes area. On the day of our inspection, 39 people were using the service.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People felt safe living at the service. It was evident from talking with staff that they were aware of what they considered to be abuse and how to report this.

Risks to people’s safety had been assessed and were in people’s support plans. Staff used these to assist people to be as independent as possible.

There was sufficient staff, with the correct skill mix, on duty to support people with their needs. Staff had been recruited using a robust recruitment process.

Medicines were stored, administered and handled safely.

Staff were knowledgeable about the needs of individual people they supported. People were supported to make choices around their care and daily lives.

Staff had attended a variety of training to keep their skills up to date and were supported with regular supervision by the registered manager.

There were policies and procedures in place in relation to the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff knew how to use them to protect people who were unable to make decisions for themselves.

People could make choices about their food and drink and were provided with support when required to prepare meals.

Each person had a ‘health Passport’ and access to health care professionals to ensure they received effective care or treatment.

Staff treated people with kindness and compassion, and knew people well.

People and their relatives were involved in making decisions and planning their care, and their views were listened to and acted upon.

People had the privacy they required and were treated with respect at all times.

People’s support plans were person centred and reflected how they wished to receive support.

Staff supported people to follow their interests and social activities.

There was an effective complaints procedure in place.

Regular meetings were held for staff and people who used the service to enable everyone to be involved in the development of the service.

We saw that effective quality monitoring systems were in place. A variety of audits were carried out and used to drive improvement.