27 July 2018
During a routine inspection
This service currently provides care and support to people living in one ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. At the time of this inspection the service supported one person. One other person shares the house but receives no personal care support and so is outside of the regulatory remit of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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 registered manager in place as required. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. Twenty-four-hour support was provided by care staff within the house. A small ‘office’ on site contained the necessary records and secure storage.
"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.” (Registering the Right Support CQC policy).
The service provided safe care to people and staff knew how to report any concerns about abuse. Appropriate assessment and risk assessment helped ensure people’s needs were met and any risks identified and acted upon.
People’s medicines were well managed on their behalf.
People were further safeguarded because the service had a robust recruitment process to ensure as far as possible, the suitability of staff. Some recording improvements were needed regarding recruitment records and these were addressed following the inspection.
People received care which effectively met their needs. They and their representatives were involved in decision about their care and care plans were detailed, enabling person-centred care. People’s dietary and health needs were met effectively.
People’s rights and freedom were protected in the way staff worked. 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.
Staff completed a thorough induction and training and received ongoing support through regular one-to-one supervision. The registered manager planned to carry out annual appraisals for staff who had been in post over 12 months.
People and relatives said staff were kind and caring. Staff worked with people in a respectful way, treating them as adults. People’s dignity and privacy were respected in the way staff worked with them and their diverse needs were met.
The service was responsive to people’s changing needs and listened to ideas from people and their representatives. No complaints had been made but people and relatives knew they could speak to the registered manager about any concerns. People were supported to access activities and places of interest to them and lived fulfilling and active lives.
The registered manager had appropriate systems in place to seek the views of people, their representatives and other stakeholders. He also had systems in place to oversee the effective operation of the service and carried out monthly audits for the provider. Regular staff meetings, spot checks and the on-site managerial presence helped ensure staff knew the expectations upon them and worked in the way expected of them.