Potens Dipton Supported Living and Outreach

Updated 14 June 2022

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

An inspector carried out the inspection. An Expert by Experience made telephone calls to relatives of people who used the service. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

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

This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because one of the settings is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 28 April 2022 and ended on 5 May 2022. We visited the service on both dates.

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 and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided.

We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, team leader, senior care staff and care staff. We also spoke with a visiting professional.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and two medication records. We looked at three 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. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 14 June 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Potens Dipton Supported Living and Outreach provides care and support to people living in two 'supported living' settings. Supported living settings support people to live in their own home as independently as possible. People's housing is provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living.

At the time of the inspection there were 27 people using the service, in a block of flats and in a house on a residential street. The service supports people, who have either a learning disability or a mental health need. 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.

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

Right Support

People were involved in discussions about their support and given information in a way they understood. Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests in their local area. People told us they could either choose their own social interests and travel to them independently or they were supported by staff to do this. Some people told us how their range of skills and social activities had increased, and staff had encouraged them to go to places that interested them. Where people had support, they told us this was flexible, available when they needed it and to the level they needed. People were supported safely with medicines and infection prevention and control practices reflected good practice.

Some aspects of the environment at one of the supported living settings needed some maintenance and improvement. Work was on-going to make the building more suitable for the needs of the people living there. The other setting was purpose built and was designed to meet the needs of the people using it. Both settings had communal areas and quiet spaces. People were able to personalise their flats or rooms, one person told us, ‘It was me that chose the colours, I put my stamp on it. I feel really good.’ People had personal items and furnishings of their choosing. Communal areas were decorated based on themes agreed with everyone who used them.

One of the supported living settings accommodated nine people with a learning disability. The size of the service was not in-line with best practice guidance. People we spoke with told us they were happy living at the service and liked the people they lived with. There was a relaxed atmosphere with people mainly choosing to socialise together. Care was individualised and person centred. Staff ensured decisions about any routines in the service were based on people’s choices. People were regularly asked for their opinions and gave them freely. Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community. People had accessed preventative services such as screening for health conditions.

Right Care

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. They understood people's cultural needs and provided culturally appropriate care.

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs. People who had individual ways of communicating, using body language, sounds, which staff were familiar with. Staff had the necessary skills to understand people and therefore they interacted comfortably.

Right culture

The service was open to new ways of working and ongoing improvements were introduced to promote independence and inclusivity. People received good quality care, support and treatment because trained staff could meet their needs and wishes. Additional training needs were explored with staff and provided to meet people’s needs. Staff turnover was very low, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well. Staff placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did. They sought advice and feedback from everyone involved in people's care. Staff demonstrated kindness and compassion when they worked with people. Staff were aware of and working to best practice guidance for supporting people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

This service was registered with us on 19 June 2020 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service at the previous premises was good, published on 21 October 2017.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.