Aspirations Southwest Adults

Updated 2 June 2017

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 5 May 2017. We gave the service notice of the inspection because the registered manager is often out of the office providing support to people and staff. We needed to be sure that they would be there. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. We spoke with the registered manager and four members of staff. Following our visit to the office we visited people in their homes on 10 May 2017 and spoke with five people, three members of staff and three service managers. We also spoke with three relatives of people using the service on the telephone.

We reviewed records for people using the service and checked records relating to staff recruitment, support and training and the management of the service. 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 also reviewed information we have about the service including notifications. A notification is a report about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

Updated 2 June 2017

This inspection took place on the 5 May 2017 and was announced. We also visited people where they lived on 10 May 2017.

Aspirations Southwest Adults provides domiciliary care and supported living services to adults with a learning disability or mental health condition in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there were 17 people receiving the regulated activity of personal care.

Aspirations Southwest Adults had 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 were at risk of receiving care from unsuitable staff because robust recruitment procedures were not being applied.

Since our previous inspection there had been improvements to the service. Staff received improved support through regular individual and group meetings and commented on better communication from managers. People using the service now enjoyed a wider range of activities and benefitted from improved management of the service.

People were enabled to live safely; risks to their safety were identified, assessed and appropriate action taken. People's medicines were safely managed.

People were satisfied with their support and the approach and effectiveness of staff. People had achieved positive relationships with staff. People were treated with kindness, their privacy and dignity was respected and they were supported to maintain their independence and engage in activities. People and their representatives were involved in the planning and review of the support they received.

Staff received support to develop knowledge and skills for their role and were positive about their work with people. Managers were accessible to people using the service and staff. Systems were in place to check the quality of the service provided including gaining the views of people who used the service.