Archived: Your Choice Assisted Living Limited

Updated 24 October 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 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 19 and 20 September 2017 and was announced. We gave the service short notice of the inspection because it is small and the registered manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to make sure that they would be in. One adult social care inspector carried out the inspection on both days.

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 reviewed the PIR and other information we held about the home. This included statutory notifications sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

The Care Quality Commission sent out questionnaires prior to the inspection. Three were sent out to people who used the service (two were returned); three were sent out to relatives and friends (one was returned), and three were sent out to community professionals (one was returned).

At the inspection, we spoke with the two directors (one of whom is also the registered manager), deputy manager, assistant manager, four support staff and two relatives. We visited four people in their own homes and spoke with them about their experiences of the service. We contacted a further six support staff and received responses from one of them. We requested feedback from two health and social care professionals and received a response from one of them. This enabled us to ensure we were addressing any potential areas of concern.

We reviewed information about people’s care and how the service was managed. These included three people’s care records and two medicine records; staff files which included recruitment records of the last three staff employed; staff rotas; staff training and supervision records; quality monitoring systems such as audits; complaints and compliments; incidents and accident reporting; minutes of meetings; policies and procedures, and the most recent satisfaction survey sent out to families and staff.

Following the inspection, the provider sent us revised copies of records, policies and procedures and monitoring systems to include more information. These had been updated since the inspection and put in to immediate use.

Updated 24 October 2017

Your Choice Assisted Living is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as a supported living service where care and support is provided to people in supported living houses who may have a learning disability, a mental health illness or behaviour that challenges. At the time of inspection, the service provided care and support to 23 people in total. However, only seven of these people received personal care which was the regulated activity; one person was on holiday and another person in hospital. This report only looked at the regulated activity of the service.

People either lived on their own, or with one other person, in houses in Bideford and the surrounding areas. People had tenancy agreements with Little White Town Limited. The same provider owned both Your Choice and Little White Town, but they were run and managed as separate organisations.

The inspection team took place on 19 and 20 September 2017 and was announced. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector on both days. This was the first inspection since the service was registered in July 2016.

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 were supported by sufficient staff to meet their needs. Staff had the required recruitment checks in place, were trained and had the skills and knowledge to meet their needs. Staff had received an induction and were knowledgeable about the signs of abuse and how to report concerns. Staff enjoyed their work and felt listened to. They had confidence in the management team and felt valued at work.

People had individual care plans in place and these reflected people’s needs and gave staff clear guidance about how to reduce risks and support them safely. They were personalised and families had been involved in their development. Accidents and incidents were reported and action was taken to reduce the risks of recurrence. People were referred promptly to health care services when required and accompanied to health care appointments.

Staff knew the people they supported, their personal histories and daily preferences. They had developed close and trusting relationships they supported and knew them well. They worked closely with the family and other professionals. Staff showed concern for people’s wellbeing in a caring and meaningful way.

People were supported to follow their interests and take part in social activities in the local community. Links had been made with the local community and people were encouraged to lead fulfilling lives.

The registered manager and staff demonstrated an understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act (2005). People were supported to eat and drink enough and maintain a balanced diet. They received their prescribed medicines at the right time.

People and relatives expressed satisfaction with the management of the service. They felt listened to and able to raise any concerns which they were confident would be dealt with. The registered manager actively sought the views of people, their relatives and staff. This was through regular staff meetings, being visible within the service and questionnaires.

There were some quality monitoring systems in place. However, the registered manager had identified these needed improving to cover more areas. The management team had recently expanded and a manager and assistant manager were employed to help with this.

The group houses were managed to keep people safe. Any repairs and maintenance were dealt with under the tenancy agreements.