Archived: Richmond Community Support

Richmond Community Service is a supported living service providing personal care to people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders and physical disabilities at the time of the inspection. The service can support 12 people in two purpose-built houses.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.

As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people. Staff consistently applied effective proactive strategies to prevent behaviour that challenges.

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

People received care and support from staff that understood their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding people from abuse. Identified risks to people were clearly documented and staff had clear guidance on how to mitigate those risks. There were suitable numbers of staff deployed to keep people safe. People’s medicines were managed in line with good practice. People were protected against the risk of cross contamination as the provider had robust infection control measures in place.

Newly employed staff underwent a comprehensive induction and reflected on their working practices regularly. People were supported to prepare and access sufficient food and drink to meet their dietary needs and preferences. People’s health and wellbeing was regularly monitored, and people had access to a wide range of healthcare professionals when required.

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.

People were treated with respect and had their diverse needs encouraged. People’s dependency levels were assessed prior to living at the service. People were encouraged to maintain their independence wherever possible.

Care plans were person-centred and regularly reviewed to reflect people’s changing needs. People were encouraged and supported to participate in both in-house and community-based activities, in line with their preferences. The provider had an accessible information standard policy. People were encouraged to raise concerns and people's relatives confirmed they would raise concerns if required. People's end of life wishes were documented.

The registered manager had clear oversight of the services and spent her time equally at each service. People’s relative’s spoke positively about the registered manager. Staff confirmed they could speak with the registered manager at any time and that she was available to them. The registered manager carried out regular audits and worked in partnership with stakeholders to drive improvements.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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

Rating at last inspection

The service was registered with us on 30 May 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was planned in line with our inspection programme.

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.