Archived: Cambridge Supported Living Scheme

Updated 17 November 2016

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 unannounced inspection took place on 22 September 2016. It was undertaken by one 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 looked at all the information we held about the service including notifications. A notification is information about events that the registered persons are required, by law, to tell us about.

We also asked for feedback from the commissioners of people’s care and Healthwatch Cambridge to aid with our planning.

During our inspection we visited one person in their own home. We also spoke with the registered manager, two senior support workers, a support worker and the administrator. During our visit to the person we observed how the staff member interacted with people them they were supporting.

We looked at one person’s care records, staff training records and other records relating to the management of the service. These included audits and meeting minutes.

Following our inspection we received feedback from three care managers and a healthcare professional.

Updated 17 November 2016

Cambridge Supported Living Scheme is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes.

This unannounced inspection took place on 22 September 2016. There was one person receiving care at that time.

The service had a registered manager in place. 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. The registered manager is also registered to run another of the provider’s services, Cambridgeshire County Council – 40/44 Russell Street, Cambridge, from the same address.

There were systems in place to ensure people’s safety was managed effectively. Staff were aware of the actions to take to report their concerns. People’s risks were assessed and measures were in place to minimise the risk of harm occurring. Staff were aware of the procedures for reporting concerns and of how to protect people from harm.

Staff were only employed after comprehensive and satisfactory pre-employment checks had been obtained. There were sufficient staff to ensure people’s needs were met safely and flexibly. Staff were well trained and had the skills and knowledge they needed to support people effectively. Staff were well supported by the registered manager.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and report on what we find. We found that there were formal systems in place to assess people’s capacity for decision making. Staff respected people’s decisions about their care and how they lived their lives. Systems were in place so that best interest decisions could be made if people were assessed as not having the mental capacity to make specific decisions. Staff were aware of the key legal requirements of the MCA.

People’s health, care and nutritional needs were effectively met and monitored. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet. People were supported to have access to the health care services they needed.

People received care and support from staff who were kind, empathetic and caring. Staff treated people with dignity and respect. People were encouraged to be involved in decisions about the service provided. People were involved in every day decisions about their care.

People’s care records were detailed and provided staff with sufficient guidance to ensure consistent care to each person. Staff supported the person to maintain and develop community links.

The registered manager was experienced and staff were managed to provide people with safe and appropriate care. The registered manager was approachable and supportive. People had access to information on how to make a complaint. The registered manager monitored the quality of people’s care and the service provided.