Background to this inspection
Updated
16 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.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in ‘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 did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. However, there was a manager in post and they were in the process of registering with CQC. This means that the provider is 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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the manager would be in the office to assist with the inspection.
Inspection activity started and ended on 12 December 2019. On the day of the inspection we visited the office location and people at their homes.
What we did before inspection
We sought feedback from the local authority. 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with six people who were supported by the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the manager, service coordinator, senior support workers and support workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s support plans and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and appraisal records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.
Updated
16 January 2020
About the service
Merseyside Supported Living and Outreach is a supported living service providing personal care to people living in their own homes. The service supports people who have a learning disability and/or mental health needs. At the time of our inspection the service supported 53 people living in their own homes.
People lived in a variety of properties, which were in keeping with neighbouring properties and had access to local amenities and transport. Communal areas of people’s homes were shared but all had their own bedrooms.
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 applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People were safeguarded from the risk of abuse and people told us they felt safe being supported by staff. One person said, “I feel safe, I get on well with the staff and I trust them.” People also said that staff were always there when they needed them.
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.
People told us staff were kind, caring and listened to them. They also said that staff treated them with dignity and respect. Comments included, “I’d give them [staff] 11 out of 10. It’s not a job for staff, they really care” and “They [the staff] respect me, staff treat me as an equal, they understand I have problems but respect me”
People were involved and listened to in the care planning and review process. Care plans were person-centred and detailed. One person said, "Staff listen to me and support me how I want them to.”
There was a positive culture amongst the staff at the service, which valued people as individuals and aimed to encourage and develop people’s independence. People were able to give their feedback about their care and support in a variety of ways and there were good systems in place to monitor the quality of care being provided.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 17/12/2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on our approach to inspecting newly registered services.
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.