Compassionate Care and Support LTD

Updated 21 February 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in two ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period notice of the inspection. This was because the provider and registered manager work closely with staff and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 10 February 2020 and ended on 12 February 2020. We visited the office location

on 10 February 2020.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff. This included a director, the registered manager, the nominated individual and seven staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We visited one person in their home and observed the interactions between them and staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and one person’s medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 21 February 2020

About the service

Castle Hill Court is a supported living service that currently provides personal care for people who may be living with mental health conditions and/or a learning disability. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting 6 people who received support with personal care and lived in two domestic houses. Staff are available to support people 24 hours a day and a member of staff is available at night at the houses. The office of the service is based near Manchester with parking available.

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.

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

People were protected from avoidable harm. Staff carried out risk assessments and care documentation recorded the actions required to minimise risks. Staff had completed safeguarding training and told us they would report any concerns to the registered manager, nominated individual or external authorities to ensure people were protected from avoidable harm. Safe recruitment practices were followed, and staff were deployed effectively, so they could meet people's needs. Medicines were managed safely, and staff received training and practical assessment to check their competency in this area.

People were cared for by staff who were competent and knowledgeable about people's needs. Training and supervision was arranged to ensure staff had the skills to carry out their role. Staff supported people to see healthcare professionals if this was needed. People’s nutrition and hydration was addressed to promote well-being. 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.

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.

Staff treated people with dignity and respect. Staff told us how they respected people and ensured their privacy and dignity was maintained. Care was person centred, met people's individual needs and achieved good outcomes. Wherever possible, people and their relatives were involved in discussions about their care.

People were encouraged to pursue their own interests and staff knew people well. Staff sought feedback from people on an informal basis and supported people to raise any comments with them. A complaints procedure was available, and staff told us they viewed complaints as an opportunity to learn.

The registered manager and management team had promoted an open and transparent culture within the home and an ethos of teamwork to support people to live happily and safely. Staff, the registered manager and management team worked closely together, and with external health professionals, to help enable people to have the best outcomes possible. The registered manager carried out regular checks on areas such as medicines, infection control, accidents and incidents and the environment to ensure shortfalls were identified and actioned and successes celebrated.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 27 February 2019 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for this service was good (published 09 June 2018). Since this rating was awarded the provider has altered its legal entity. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on our published methodology.

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.