Isle of Wight Supported Living

Updated 8 September 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.

The inspection was announced. We gave the provider two working days’ notice of our inspection as it was a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure key staff members would be available. The inspection was conducted by one inspector. The inspector visited the service's office on 9 and 14 August 2018 to see the registered manager and office staff and to review care records, staffing records, policies and procedures.

Before the inspection, we reviewed information we held about the service including notifications we had been sent by the provider. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We also considered 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 three people’s relatives by telephone and visited eight people in their homes. We spoke with the registered manager, three team leaders and six care workers. We looked at care records for five people. We also reviewed records about how the service was managed, including staff training and recruitment records. We received feedback from one healthcare professional.

We last inspected the service in June 2017 when did not identify any breaches of regulation, but rated the service as ‘Requires improvement’.

Updated 8 September 2018

Isle of Wight Supported Living Service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides care and support services to people living in their own homes in the community. Not everyone using Isle of Wight Supported Living received a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.

At the time of the inspection, Isle of Wight Supported Living were providing the regulated activity of personal care for 28 people. Our inspection was based on the care and support provided to these people, each of whom received a variety of care hours from the service depending on their level of need. People had a learning disability or autism and were living in individual supported living flats or shared houses; they required support to enable them to retain a level of independence.

This inspection was conducted between 9 and 14 August 2018 and was announced. We gave the provider two working days’ notice of our inspection as we needed to be sure key staff members would be available.

We last inspected the service in June 2017 when we did not identify any breaches of regulation, but rated the service as ‘Requires improvement’. Following that inspection, the registered manager told us the improvements they planned to make. At this inspection, we found improvements had been made.

Individual and environmental risks to people were managed effectively.

Staff supported people to take their medicines in a safe way. Staff followed infection control procedures and used personal protective equipment when needed.

Staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities and knew how to identify, prevent and report abuse. The registered manager reported incidents appropriately to the local safeguarding authority and conducted thorough investigations.

There were enough staff available to complete all care and support required. Robust recruitment procedures were in place to help ensure that only suitable staff were employed.

People and relatives were complementary about the staff and the quality of care they provided. New staff completed an effective induction into their role and experienced staff received regular refresher training in all key subjects. Staff were appropriately supported by team leaders and managers.

Staff followed legislation to protect people’s rights and sought consent before providing care or support to people.

Care plans were informative, up to date and reviewed regularly. People received personalised care from staff who understood their individual needs well. Staff were flexible and adaptable when people’s needs or wishes changed.

Staff were responsible for supporting people to meet their nutritional needs, they encouraged people to maintain a healthy, balanced diet based on their individual needs and preferences.

Staff supported people to access healthcare services where needed.

Staff were caring and compassionate. They built positive relationships with people, encouraged them to be as independent as possible and involved them in decisions about their care.

Staff treated people with dignity and respect and protected their privacy during personal care.

People and relatives had confidence in the service and felt it was managed effectively. They knew how to raise a complaint and felt they would be listened to.

There was a clear management structure and an effective quality assurance process in place. The provider sought and acted on feedback from people.

There was an open and transparent culture. The registered manager notified CQC of all significant events and understood their responsibilities under the duty of candour requirements.