2 August 2019
During a routine inspection
Precious Homes Torquay provides support for up to 14 people living in a supported living setting in the coastal town of Torquay. At the time of our inspection 13 people were receiving support from the service. People were accommodated by a private landlord in a large adapted building with their own flats. There were also communal areas for people to socialise in such as a large garden and lounge. There was an office in the grounds of the property.
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 building design fitted into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a supported living service. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were supported by engaging compassionate staff who knew them well. People were involved in the planning of their care and supported by a service that was exceptionally caring and wholly person centred. People’s equality and diversity characteristics were protected and explored by people with staff encouragement.
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. Where restraint needed to be used it was as a last resort and it was clearly evidenced in what cases this needed to be used. All staff were trained in the use of appropriate restraint.
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.
People told us they felt safe and if they were worried about something they could approach staff or the manager. All staff had good knowledge of safeguarding and medicines were managed safely. People were supported with staff who were employed after a robust recruitment process. Staff were aware of the risks people faced and discussed these with people.
People were supported to achieve positive outcomes such as maintaining employment, developing living skills and learning to be out in the community safely. People were encouraged to retain and develop friendships and stay in contact with families.
The service was well-led, by an experienced and knowledgeable management team who cared deeply about their staff team and the people using the service. Staff felt supported and listened to. People told us managers were approachable and helped them solve problems. Quality systems were robust, and performance was monitored, and learning taken from incidents when they occurred.
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 4 February 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.