Background to this inspection
Updated
12 December 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 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.
This was a comprehensive inspection which took place on 12 October 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location was a supported living service for younger adults who are often out during the day. We needed to be sure they would be in.
This inspection was conducted by one adult social care inspector.
Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form the provider completes to give some key information about the home, what the home does well and improvements they plan to make. The provider returned the PIR within the agreed timeframe and we took the information provided into account when we made the judgements in this report.
In preparation for our inspection we gathered feedback from health and social care professionals who visited the service. We also reviewed the information we held about the service and the provider. This included safeguarding alerts, information from whistle blowers and statutory notifications sent to us by the registered provider about significant incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us.
During our inspection visit, we spoke with one person using the service, one member of staff, the registered manager and the regional director.
We looked at a range of documents and written records including four people's care records, two staff recruitment files and staff training records. We also looked at a sample of policies and procedures, staff meeting minutes and records relating to the auditing and monitoring of service provision.
Updated
12 December 2018
Supported Homes Limited – 1 Emerald Close is a supported living service. This service provided care and support to people living in four supported living settings, so that they could live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s care and housing were provided under separate contractual arrangements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. There was four people using the service on the day of our inspection.
At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found 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.
At this inspection we found the service remained good.
People who used the service told us they felt safe. Staff told us, and records we looked at confirmed, that staff had undertaken training in safeguarding. Policies and procedures were in place to guide staff with any safeguarding concerns.
The service used a ‘positive risk’ taking approach and we saw risk assessments were in place to keep people safe, without restricting their freedom and choices. These were reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they remained effective.
Recruitment systems and processes in place were robust. We saw references, identity checks and Disclosure and Barring Service checks were completed before staff were employed. People who used the service told us and records we looked at showed adequate numbers of staff were on duty.
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.
Records we looked at showed staff completed an induction when they commenced employment. We saw a programme of training was available and courses staff had completed included, epilepsy awareness, first aid, fire safety, health and safety and conflict management. Staff also received regular supervisions and appraisals. This ensured staff were knowledgeable, skilled and supported in their roles.
People had access to health care professionals such as GPs, community psychiatric nurses, dentists and opticians. This ensured people’s health needs were reviewed and met.
People who used the service told us staff were kind and caring. We did not have the opportunity to observe staff interactions with people, however, staff we spoke with spoke about people in a kind and respectful manner.
Staff members knew people well, including their preferences, background and history. People’s care records contained information relating to their sexuality, cultural/spiritual needs and relationships.
The service delivered person centred care using the recovery model. The aim of this was for people to eventually become independent and move on. We saw detailed, person centred care plans were in place.
The registered manager had processes and systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service.
The service was meeting all relevant fundamental standards.
Further information is in the detailed findings below