Background to this inspection
Updated
8 March 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.
The inspection took place between 8 and 23 January 2019. It was announced at short notice to make sure the registered manager and people supported by the service would be available.
The inspection team consisted of an inspector, an assistant inspector and an expert by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Inspection activity started on 8 January 2019 when we carried out telephone interviews with people supported. On 14 January 2019 we carried out telephone interviews with support workers and on 14 and 21 January 2019 we visited the providers offices. On 23 January 2019 we visited four supported living properties.
We spoke with nine people supported by the service, fourteen support workers, three support managers, the registered manager and the newly appointed manager. We looked at seven people’s care records and other records relating to the management of the service such as training records, meeting notes, audits and action plans.
We used information we held about the service to help us plan this inspection. This included notifications which the provider is required to send us about important events. On this occasion we did not ask the provider to send a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we ask the provider to send us periodically which included key information about the service. We contacted the local commissioning and safeguarding teams and they did not have any concerns about the service. We had sent surveys to people who used the service and their relatives, staff and health care professionals. The completed surveys including the comments received were used to inform our judgement of the service.
Updated
8 March 2019
Affinity Trust provides supported living and outreach services to adults with learning disabilities in Bradford, Keighley and Ilkley. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting 95 people in total which included 47 people living in supported living properties. Within supported living services people's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support.
At our last inspection we rated the service 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.
People felt safe and support workers understood how to protect people from abuse. Risks related to people's care and support needs were continuously assessed and monitored and their support was reviewed to maintain their safety.
People’s medicines were managed safely. People received appropriate support to meet their health care needs. People were supported with their dietary needs. The service worked with other professionals to ensure people's care and health needs were met.
The service continued to follow safe recruitment procedures. Support workers were trained for their roles and there were sufficient numbers of staff available, who worked flexibly to support people.
People continued to be involved in making decisions about their care and support. They were supported to be independent and take positive risks. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and were supported in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Support plans were personalised and reflected people’s preferences, choice of lifestyle and cultural needs.
People followed their interests and hobbies and maintained relationships with family and friends.
The service had a registered manager. There was an open and transparent approach by the registered manager and the management team. People using the service and staff confirmed the management team were supportive.
Quality assurance processes were in place and operated effectively to monitor the quality and safety of the services provided.
Concerns were acted upon promptly and any lessons learned were shared with the staff team to improve the quality of care provided.
People using the service, their relatives, health and social care professionals and staff had opportunities to give feedback and influence the development of the service.
Further information is in the detailed findings below