Background to this inspection
Updated
30 March 2021
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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection was undertaken 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
his service provides care and support to people living in their own homes and supported living houses 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 announced. We gave 24 hours’ notice for the inspection because we needed to be sure that staff would be in the office to support the inspection. Also, we wanted to gain the consent from some people, to be able to visit them in their homes.
Inspection activity started on 5 March 2021 and was completed on the 11 March 2021.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and local safeguarding team. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with eight people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff, a service manager as well as the provider and registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment, a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures .
After the inspection
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic we limited the time we spent on site, Therefore, we requested records and documentation to be sent to us and reviewed these following the inspection visit.
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
30 March 2021
About the service
Independent Living Alliance Liverpool is a service that provides personal care and support to people in their own homes. The service provides support to people who have physical disabilities, sensory impairment,
mental health support needs, a learning disability or autism. At the time of the inspection the service supported over 200 people however just 11 people received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care.
The monitoring systems in place did not identify the issues we highlighted during the inspection regarding some aspects of record keeping. The registered manager acted quickly to address the issues raised during the inspection.
Medication systems and procedures were regularly reviewed. People received their medicines as prescribed, by trained and competent members of staff. However, some areas of record keeping needed improvement to ensure staff appropriately signed records.
Each person had a detailed support plan stating their needs and requests how they wished to be supported. They were supported to take risks and to make decisions which reflected their preferences and individual needs. However, some aspects of their records needed further review to ensure record keeping was accurate and consistently maintained.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of 'Right care, right culture, right support' and other best practice guidance. However, some staff had no knowledge of this guidance.
We have made a recommendation for all staff to have training and awareness in these values.
People were positive about the service and the staff supporting them.
Staff were very positive about the management of the service and felt well supported. Staff felt they received lots of relevant training necessary for their role. Training records and quality checks were submitted by the registered manager who agreed to review information to show improved clarity how they monitor staff records.
We were assured that infection prevention and control (IPC) measures were appropriately followed. Staff had access to regular training and supplies of protective equipment (PPE ) to help keep people safe from cross infection.
There were sufficient numbers of staff recruited who were safely recruited. Management of staffing levels and rotas were not fully available initially. The registered manager has submitted information to show they have safe oversight to check people have enough staff in place to support them.
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was rated 'good' published (4 September 2019.)
Why we inspected
We carried out an announced inspection to follow up on concerns we had received following a safeguarding referral to the Local Authority. The information The Care Quality Commission (CQC) received indicated that there were concerns around governance procedures. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.
Our report is only based on the findings in those areas at this inspection. The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for the effective, caring and responsive key questions were not looked at during this visit. We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used to calculate the overall rating at this inspection.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the ‘safe’ key question. We look at this in all services even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively
The overall rating for the service has remained ‘good’. This is based on the findings at this inspection. We found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. under well-led.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Independent Living Alliance Liverpool on our website at www.cqc.org.uk