Lifeways Community Care Ltd (Leicester)

Lifeways Community Care Ltd (Leicester) provides personal care and support to younger and older people living with physical and learning disabilities, mental health needs, autisim and dementia. People were living in their own homes or within supported living accommodation. The service was supporting 200 people. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

People's experience of using this service and what we found

People were protected from the risk of abuse and from potential discrimination. Risks people faced had been assessed and those identified were safely managed. Medicines were managed safely. Staff showed a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities of keeping people safe from harm. Staff had been safely recruited and staffing levels were maintained. People were supported to take their medicines and protected from the risk of infections.

Staff received a range of training appropriate to their role and people's needs, and were supported to develop through regular supervision. People were encouraged and supported to maintain good nutrition and hydration and access the healthcare they needed to stay well.

Staff were respectful and communicated effectively to support people to make choices and decisions about their care and support. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff knew people well and were described as caring and respectful by people and relatives. People were at the centre of the service and involved in all aspects of the care and support provided. The service was effective at promoting people's independence. People had made significant achievements with the support of staff.

The service provided people with personalised care that met their needs and took account of their wishes. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills, and become more independent, to achieve the best possible outcomes. People and relatives were supported to make complaints and raise concerns. These were used to drive improvements within the service.

Effective systems were in place to consistently monitor and review the standard of care and support provided. The leadership of the service promoted a positive culture that was person-centred and inclusive. The manager and the staff team showed a desire to improve on the service provided and in turn the quality of life experiences for the people using the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 22 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

Lifeways Community Care is a home care agency and supported living service that supports adults who live with a learning disability, autism or mental health issues. At the time of our inspection there were 141 people using the service

The service had a registered manager. 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 and their relatives told us that they felt safe. Staff were aware of their responsibility to keep people safe. Safe recruitment practices were followed.

Risk associated with activities of people’s care had been assessed and measures were in place to prevent avoidable harm. The environment and equipment was checked and maintained in order to keep people safe.

Staff had received training and supervision to meet the needs of the people who used the service. Staff told us that they felt supported.

People received their medicines as required. Medicines were administered safely by staff who were appropriately trained and competent to do so. People were supported to manage their medicines where they were able to.

People’s health needs were met and when necessary, outside health professionals were contacted for support. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink and follow healthy diets.

People were supported in line with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA). People’s capacity to consent to their care had been assessed when there was a reasonable belief that they may not be able to make a specific decision.

People were supported by staff who understood that they should be treated with dignity and respect. People’s independence was promoted and encouraged.

People were supported to pursue their interests and remain active. Staff supported people to access educational, vocational and leisure activities. People’s aspirations were recognised and respected.

People had been asked for feedback about the service. They were activity involved and consulted in the running of the service. Staff were involved in the recruitment of their staff.

People received care and support that was centred on them as individuals. People were involved in planning and reviewing their care. Staff had a clear understanding of their role and how to support people as individuals.

People felt that the service was well-led. They knew how to complain should they have needed to and had confidence that their concerns would be addressed.

Staff felt supported and that communication between them and the registered manager was good. They were clear on their role, the expectations of them and the aims and objectives of the service.

Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service being provided and drive improvement.

The registered manger was aware of their responsibility to report events that occurred within the service to CQC and external agencies.