Background to this inspection
Updated
18 January 2019
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.
A comprehensive inspection took place on 8 November 2018 and was announced. The inspection was carried out by an adult social care inspector.
We used the information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service and requested feedback from other stakeholders. These included the local Healthwatch, the local authority safeguarding team and local authority commissioning and contracts department. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.
On the day of the inspection fifteen people were using the service, four of these people received personal care. We spoke with the registered manager, who is also the registered manager for a residential service, the team leader, the training manager, four care staff and one person using the service who was visiting the office.
We looked at two people’s care plans and reviewed medication administration records. The recruitment records, supervision, appraisal and training documents for four staff members were also looked at. We reviewed documents and records that related to the management of the service. This included audits, maintenance records, risk assessments and policies and procedures.
Updated
18 January 2019
This unannounced inspection was carried out on 8 November 2018.
At the last inspection which took place on 27 May 2016, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
This service provides personal care to people living in their own homes and flats. It also provides support for people living in supported living settings, 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 for supported living; this inspection looked at people's care and support.
At the time of the inspection, a total of 15 people were receiving care and support from the service, four of these people received support with personal care. We were unable to speak to the majority of people who used the service as they were attending other care provision or accessing their social activities. People who received support from the service had limited time allocated to do this, so chose not to speak with us during the inspection and access their planned activities. During the inspection we spoke with one person who was visiting the office.
People continued to feel safe and were protected from abuse because staff understood how to keep them safe, staff were able to discuss the processes they should follow if an allegation of abuse was made. All staff informed us concerns would be followed up if they were raised. People received their medicines safely as prescribed.
There were enough suitable trained staff to meet people's needs. Risk assessments were carried out to enable people to retain their independence and receive safe care.
Relatives and professionals told us, staff were extremely compassionate, kind and caring and had developed good relationships with people using the service. Staff knew people well and promoted their dignity and respected their privacy.
Care plans detailed and provided staff with guidance on how to meet people's individual needs.
People were supported to eat and drink according to their likes and dislikes. People who lacked capacity had decisions made in line with current legislation. 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.
The service had an open culture which encouraged communication and learning. People, relatives and staff were encouraged to provide feedback about the service and it was used to drive improvement. People were supported to engage in their preferred activity programmes. People knew how to complain and there were a range of opportunities for them to raise concerns with the registered manager and designated staff.
Staff continued to support people to book and attend appointments with healthcare professionals, and supported them to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The service worked with other organisations to ensure that people received coordinated and person-centred care and support. There were policies in place that ensured people would be listened to and treated fairly if they complained about the service. Quality monitoring was carried out to identify any shortfalls within the service and how the service could improve.
The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.