Background to this inspection
Updated
10 August 2018
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 was a comprehensive inspection that took place on 4 and 6 July 2018. The provider was given 48 hours' notice because the location provides a supported living service and we needed to be sure that staff would be available. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Before the inspection, we used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return to help us plan this inspection. 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. We also reviewed information that we held about the service such as notifications, which are events, which happened in the service that the provider is required to tell us about, and information that had been sent to us by other agencies. We contacted commissioners of adult social care services who fund the care package provided for people. In addition also spoke with two relatives by telephone.
On the first day of the inspection, we visited three people in supported living houses these were two shared houses and one single occupancy house. We also spoke with three support workers. On the second day, we visited the provider’s office and spoke with the registered manager, a new staff member who was due to take over registered manager responsibility for the service, a quality manager and a team manager. We looked at all or parts of the care records of four people, along with other records relevant to the running of the service. This included how people were supported with their medicines, quality assurance audits, training information for staff and recruitment and deployment of staff, meeting minutes, policies, procedures, and arrangements for managing complaints.
Updated
10 August 2018
This service provides care and support for up to six people living in 'supported living' individual settings in and around Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support.
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.
The service had a registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. 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 supported by staff who understood their responsibilities in protecting them from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff received training in safeguarding and the provider had safeguarding policies and procedures to inform practice. People had information of who to report any safeguarding concerns to.
People were supported with their tenancy to live in a safe environment. People received support from a team of staff that provided consistency and continuity. People had been consulted about the staff they wanted to support them. Safe staff recruitment checks were carried out before staff commenced employment.
Where required people received appropriate support with the administration, storage and management of their prescribed medicines. Staff were aware of the importance of infection control measures and had received appropriate training.
Staff received an appropriate induction and ongoing support and training. The registered manager used best practice guidance, to develop and support staff to provide effective care and support. People were fully involved in meal preparation and choice.
Systems were in place to share information with external services and professionals when required. People received appropriate support to maintain their health and achieve good health outcomes.
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. Where people lacked mental capacity to consent to their care and support, assessments to ensure decisions were made in their best interest had been consistently completed.
People were involved in their care and support, and staff respected their privacy and dignity. Independence was promoted by staff, who clearly understood the principles of supported living. People were enabled to self-direct the support they received; this was empowering and gave people maximum choice and control of how they lived their life. Staff had a good understanding of people's diverse needs, preferences, routines and personal histories. People had access to advocacy support should this support be required.
People were fully involved in their care and support, and lead active and fulfilling lives. The service supported people to achieve their hopes, dreams and aspirations and further improvements were planned to support this. People's support plans focussed on their individual needs, creating a person centred approach in the delivery of care and support. Staff used effective communication methods to support people's sensory and communication needs. People had access to the provider's complaints procedure that was presented in an appropriate format for their communication needs.
People who used the service, relatives and staff were positive about the leadership of the service. There was an open and inclusive approach and the values were based on social inclusion that the staff fully understood and adhered to. Staff felt listened to, supported and involved in the development of the service. People who used the service received opportunities to share their views and experience of the service. Audits were carried out and action plans put in place to address any issues which were identified as needing improvement.