Estuary Community Support and Supported Living Services

Updated 10 April 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type:

The service is a domiciliary care agency and provides personal care to people with a learning disability in their own homes. The service had two managers registered with the Care Quality Commission. One registered manager had responsibility for the community support service and the other for the supported living services. 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:

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection as we needed to be sure managers would be available to facilitate the inspection.

The inspection site visit activity started on 26 February 2019 and ended on 28 February 2019. On the 26 February 2019, we met with people using the community support service. On the 27 February 2019, we visited two of the registered provider’s supported living services. We visited the office location on 28 February 2019 to see the registered manager and office staff.

What we did:

Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service including statutory notifications which include information the provider is required to send us by law. We also looked at information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). 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 our inspection, we met with nine people who used the service and observed their interactions with staff. We also spoke with seven members of care staff, the registered manager for the community support service, head of resident involvement, head of community support and supported living and the quality compliance manager. Shortly following our inspection, we received feedback from two health and social care professionals.

We reviewed care records, audits and quality assurance information relating to the management of the service.

Updated 10 April 2019

About the service:

Estuary Community Support and Supported Living Services is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people with learning disabilities and/or autistic spectrum disorder living in their own houses and flats in the community. It also provides care and support to people living in five 'supported living' settings so that they can live in their own home 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.

At the time of our inspection, 47 people were using the service.

People’s experience of using this service:

• The service embraced 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.

• Safe recruitment systems were in place. Staff received an induction to the service and on-going training, supervision, and support to enable them to effectively perform their roles and meet people’s individual care and support needs.

• Risks to people had been assessed and staff knew what to do to keep people safe from avoidable harm. Where required, people received support to take their prescribed medicines safely.

• Staff knew people well, and they were kind and sensitive to people’s needs. Positive relationships had been formed between staff and people using the service. People told us staff were friendly and helpful and treated them with dignity and respect.

• People received person centred care. A holistic approach was taken to assessing, planning and delivering care and support. Staff had access to up to date information and care and support was provided in line with people’s preferences and needs.

• Staff embraced the registered provider’s visions and values to deliver a high-quality person-centred service, helping people to continue living in their own home, maintain their independence and lead happy and fulfilled lives.

• 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.

• People were supported to eat and drink enough to ensure they maintained a balanced diet. Referrals to other health professionals were made when required.

• People were actively encouraged to express their views on the service they received and be involved in the running of the service.

• There were effective quality assurance systems in place to drive continuous improvement.

Rating at last inspection: At our last inspection, the service was rated ‘Good’. Our last report was published on 9 March 2016.

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the ratings at the last inspection.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor this service and plan to inspect in line with our re-inspection schedule for those services rated Good.

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