Background to this inspection
Updated
12 March 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
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in ‘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 CQC. 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.
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure someone would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 26 February 2020 and ended on 27 February 2020. We visited the office location on 26 February 2019.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection, we looked at the information we held about the service. This information included statutory notifications the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. We also contacted local authority commissioners and asked them for their views about the service. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
During our visit to the registered office we spoke with the registered manager, and the office manager. We contacted three staff by telephone. We looked at three people’s care records and a selection of medication and medication administration records (MARs). We looked at other records including quality monitoring records, recruitment and training records for three staff and other records relating to the management of the service. We spoke with one relative over the telephone, and visited one person in their home.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
12 March 2020
About the service
A Star Support Services provides personal care and support to adults with learning disabilities and autism living in their own houses and flats in the community. This included people who lived on their own and in shared tenancies with communal facilities in the community. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection, eight people were receiving personal care.
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, take positive risks and help out in the community.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Most people were unable to verbally communicate with us, however they used picture cards and body language to respond to some of our questions. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were proactively assessed, recognised and managed. There were enough staff with the right mix of skills to support people safely and effectively. Staff were recruited and selected safely. Medications were safely managed, administered and stored in people’s homes. Incidents, accidents and near misses were recorded and monitored to ensure there was opportunity for lessons to be learned. People were protected from avoidable harm and abuse. Staff had all completed safeguarding training and knew how to raise concerns. Infection control and prevention was managed well at the service.
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. Some ongoing improvements were taking place to the application of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA).
Staff were supported and supervised, trained, and suitably skilled to meet the requirements of their role. There was a clear process for referring people to external services were required and this was applied consistently to ensure care was safe. Staff worked in collaboration with other agencies such as GP’s and social workers to ensure people’s needs were met.
People’s privacy was respected, and independence was encouraged; family relationships and friendships were encouraged. Staff treated people with respect, kindness, equality and dignity. People were included as much as possible in their day to decision making and choices around their care and support needs. Care plans contained information for each person which described how they liked to be involved in their care, and what their preferred routines were. People had signed their care plans if they were able.
A personalised care plan was developed for each person with their involvement or with their family members involvement if appropriate. People’s interests and chosen activities were documented in their support plan.There was a complaints process in place which outlined response times and procedure. End of life care was discussed sensitively and with care and compassion.
The registered manager had a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities in line with regulatory requirements and had implemented a new auditing system. The service was open and inclusive and fully considered people’s equality needs. There was a positive approach to positive risk taking and encouraging people to be part of the community.
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 1 March 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on our approach to inspecting newly registered services.
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.