Background to this inspection
Updated
25 July 2019
The inspection:
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.
Inspection team:
This inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered provider would be in the office to support the inspection. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. Inspection activity started at the registered provider's office on 12 June 2019. We also visited people at their home on 12 June 2019.
Service and service type:
This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, 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.
What we did:
Before visiting the service, we looked at previous inspection reports and information sent to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) through notifications. Notifications are information we receive when a significant event happens, like a death or a serious injury. 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.
During the inspection we reviewed information from two peoples care plans. We visited two people in their home. We looked at a staff file in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed. We viewed quality audit records and feedback from health care professionals. We also spoke with the registered provider and two members of staff.
Updated
25 July 2019
About the service: This service provides personal care to people living in their own homes. This included older people and younger adults some of whom were living with learning disabilities and mental health illness.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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. There were two people receiving personal care at the time of this inspection. They were unable to communicate their experiences verbally.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensured that people who used the service could live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that included control, choice and independence. People using the service received planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service:
The owner of the service who was the registered provider and staff had known the people receiving care for many years and were able to understand their individual communication styles through body language and the use of pictures. A system of responding to complaints was in place.
We observed the registered provider and staff with the people they supported. We saw people smiling and greeting staff in a relaxed way. We observed staff communicating with people in a kind and caring way.
People’s needs were assessed and written in a care plan. The care plans were consistently updated.
The care offered was inclusive and based on policies about Equality, Diversity and Human Rights. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff were aware of their responsibility to assist people to maintain their health and wellbeing.
Staff were trained to safeguard people and understood how to protect people from harm. Medicines were administered safely by trained staff. Staff reduced the risk of infection by following safe hand washing practices and using gloves when providing personal care.
Staff were deployed in the right numbers to meet people's needs and choices. Background checks were made on new staff and staff were supervised to maintain the standards of care. Staff received ongoing training based on people’s needs.
Systems were in place so that incidents and accidents were investigated reduce the risks of these happening again.
People, care managers, relatives and staff had the opportunity to share their views about the service.
The service was not providing end of life care at the time of this inspection.
Rating at last inspection:
The last rating for this service was Good (published 25 October 2016). At this inspection, we found the service continued to meet the characteristics of Good in all domains.
Why we inspected:
This was a comprehensive inspection scheduled based on the previous rating.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk