Background to this inspection
Updated
21 January 2020
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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an inspection manager.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to one person living in a ‘supported living’ setting, 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 the person’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 it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
The inspection activity took place on 17 December 2019 when we visited the office location.
What we did before the inspection
The provider did not complete the required Provider Information Return as it was sent to them by the CQC when they were a dormant service and so was not required at this stage. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about the service, what it does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account in making our judgements in this report.
We reviewed information we had received about the service since they registered with the CQC. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We observed the persons interactions with staff as they were not able to talk or communicate with us. We spoke with three members of staff, including the provider who is also the registered manager and two support workers and well-being assistants.
We reviewed a range of records. This included the person’s care record. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision, and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
21 January 2020
About the service
Mannawell Limited HQ is a supported living service that was providing personal care to one person with learning and physical disabilities in their own home at the time of the inspection. There was an office for staff and the registered manager to use situated at the persons home where they were a tenant.
Not everyone who could use this type of service would receive personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
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 the person who uses 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 and the person using the service received planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
There were deliberately no identifying signs, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a supported living service. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with the person.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The person was 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.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. The person’s support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
Staff understood their duty to report any suspicions of harm and poor care to the person. There were enough staff and recruitment processes made sure as far as possible that only suitable staff were employed. Individualised risk assessments were in place for the person as guidance for staff on what actions to take to help minimise identified risks.
Trained staff followed the procedures in place to make sure the person was safely assisted with their prescribed medicines.
Staff were trained, supervised and their competencies checked by the registered manager to help ensure the person’s health and support needs were fully met. The registered manager was in contact with external agencies and health and social care professionals to make sure the person received the specialist advice they needed, and the support was well co-ordinated.
Staff promoted and maintained the persons privacy and dignity when supporting them. Staff assisted the person in a compassionate and caring manner. Staff ensured the person ate and drank sufficient amounts and this support was given in line with external health professional guidance. Care and support were provided based on the person’s individual care and support needs and in their best interests.
There were policies and procedures in place for staff to follow to make sure the quality of care provided was in line with best practice guidance and legislation. This included a complaints policy, available in a pictorial easy read format for the person to use should they wish to do so.
The provider had quality assurance processes and procedures in place to monitor the quality and safety of the persons care.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This is the first inspection since the service was registered on 23 October 2017. The service did not start operating until May 2019.
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.