United Response - West Sussex DCA

Updated 19 October 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was 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.

This inspection took place on 17 September and was announced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. We gave the service 48 hours notice of the inspection visit because we needed to make arrangements to visit people in their own homes and to ensure staff would be at the provider’s office.

Before the inspection we checked information that we held about the home and the service provider. This included information from other agencies and statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection we spoke with four people. We spoke with two care staff, the lead senior support worker and the registered manager.

We looked at the care plans and associated records for four people. We reviewed other records, including the provider’s internal checks and audits, staff training records, staff rotas, accidents, incidents and records of medicines administered to people.

Updated 19 October 2018

The inspection took place on 17 September 2018 and was announced.

This service provides care and support to people with a learning disability in two ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. This consisted of two residential houses which were within walking distance of each other. The houses were close to local amenities of shops and transport routes. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. At the time of the inspection seven people lived in the two supported living houses but only four of these received personal care and support. Each person had their own private bedroom and shared other areas of the house with the other occupants. This consisted of the kitchen, lounge and dining areas plus bathrooms and toilets.

At our last inspection we rated the service as Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Risks to people were assessed and there were measures in place to ensure people were protected against any identified risks.

People said they were supported well to maintain and develop their independent living skills and said they felt safe at the service. Staff were trained in safeguarding procedures and had a good awareness of the importance of protecting people.

Medicines were safely managed. Sufficient numbers of staff were provided and checks were made on the suitability of new staff to work in a care setting. Staff were trained in infection control and prevention. The provider had a system for reviewing any incidents or accidents.

The provider supported staff with a range of training courses including nationally recognised qualifications in care.

People’s nutritional needs were assessed. People prepared their own meals with staff support. 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. Support was provided to people to live independently.

Staff had a good awareness of people’s rights to care and to be treated equally irrespective of any disability, age or sexual orientation. People were involved in decisions about their care. People’s privacy was promoted.

People received responsive care which met their individual needs and preferences. People were supported to attend social and recreational activities.

There was a complaints procedure, which was provided to people who said they were able to discuss any issues or concerns they had.

The service was well led. The culture of the service supported people to take part take part in how the service ran and in providing person centred care which helped people develop independent living skills. There was oversight of the service by the provider organisation and staff were supported to develop their skills and knowledge. There was a system of checks and audits regarding the safety and quality of the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.