St. Helens Supported Living Service

Updated 4 April 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 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.

This was a comprehensive inspection.

The inspection took place on 12 March 2018 and was unannounced.

The inspection was conducted by two adult social care inspectors.

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 any improvements they plan to make. We checked the information that we held about the service and the service provider. This included statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send to us by law.

As part of our planning for this inspection we sent out questionnaires to staff and community professionals. We also contacted the local authority to ask for their views. We used all of the information available to us to plan how the inspection should be conducted.

During the inspection we spoke with two people using the service, two relatives, two care staff, a team leader, an administrator and the registered manager. We also spent time looking at records, including five care records, four staff files, medication administration record (MAR) sheets, staff training plans, complaints and other records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 4 April 2018

St Helens Supported Living Service provides care and support to people living in 28 supported living settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. At the time of the inspection 13 people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care. 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 the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

The service met all relevant fundamental standards.

A registered manager was in post. 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.

The service maintained effective systems to safeguard people from abuse. Staff were aware of what to look out for and how to report any concerns. Individual risk was fully assessed and reviewed.

Staff were safely recruited and deployed in sufficient numbers to provide safe, consistent care and support.

Medicines were stored and administered in accordance with best-practice guidelines. Where errors had been identified, the service had taken immediate action to improve practice. For example, re-issuing guidance and organising re-training.

The service trained staff to a high standard in appropriate subjects and provided regular supervision and appraisal.

People were supported by staff to maintain their health and wellbeing through access to a wide range of community healthcare services and specialists. People receiving care told us that staff accompanied them on visits to healthcare professionals as required.

The service operated in accordance with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). It was clear from care records and discussions with people that their consent was always sought in relation to care and treatment.

People told us that staff treated them with kindness and respect. Staff knew people, their needs and preferences well and provided care accordingly. People had their care needs met in a personalised way and plans were subject to regular review.

People understood how to make a complaint if they were dissatisfied with the service. We checked the records in relation to concerns and complaints. There were a small number of complaints recorded in the previous 12 months. Each had been addressed in accordance with the provider’s policy and included a written response.

People spoke very positively about the management of the service and the approachability of senior staff.

The service had a clear vision to provide high-quality, responsive, person-centred care. This was reflected in promotional materials, surveys and the discussions we had with staff. Staff and managers spoke with great enthusiasm about their roles and were able to provide evidence to support the inspection as required.

People using the service and staff were actively involved in discussions about the service and were asked to share their views. This was achieved through meetings and regular surveys.

We saw evidence that the service worked effectively with other health and social care agencies to achieve better outcomes for people and improve quality and safety.

Ratings from the previous inspection were displayed as required.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.