Background to this inspection
Updated
24 December 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. 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.
Inspection team
On day one this was carried out by two inspectors. Day two was conducted by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in five flats ‘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
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the service including information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law. 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
During the inspection, we spoke with six people using the service. We spoke with six staff members; this included the registered manager and area manager. We looked at care records for four people using the service including their medicine administration records. We looked at training, recruitment and supervision records for three staff. We also looked at various policies and procedures and reviewed the quality assurance and monitoring systems of the service.
After the inspection
We received additional information we requested by email from the registered manager. This information was used as part of our inspection.
Updated
24 December 2019
About the service
Creative Support (Leeds) provides support for people with a range of disabilities and complex needs. The service aims to enable people to live independent and dignified lives, by the provision of care in a supported living environment. At the time of inspection there were 14 people receiving a personal care service.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service was not always well-led. The registered manager had oversight of the running of the service, however these had lapsed over the last few months due to loosing key staff in the houses. We found the management of medicines and care planning required improvement and audits in relation to these had not always been picked up. The registered manager had recognised this, and a practice lead had just started supporting the home around identifying and applying quality improvements.
Staff were aware of the safety and wellbeing of people who used the service and kept people safe from avoidable harm, abuse and discrimination. Staff followed good infection control practises.
People received the right support based on their current needs and preferences. Staff had the right skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively and were well-supported by the registered manager.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff were kind and compassionate and showed a genuine passion for providing good standards of care. We were told by people their privacy and dignity were respected and they were supported to be as independent as possible.
People received care and support based on their individual needs and preferences.
We have made a recommendation in the ‘safe’ section of the full report around improvements around the auditing of medication.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published May 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.