Background to this inspection
Updated
4 December 2021
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
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care and supported living service. It provides personal care to people living homes. Some people received care and support living in one ‘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 people’s personal care and support.
The service had two managers registered with CQC. 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 72 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.
Inspection activity started on 25 August and ended on 29 September 2021. We visited the office location on 25 August and 07 September 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the location first registered. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. 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
We spoke with three people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff, including a representative from the provider, registered managers and care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, training data and audits were reviewed.
Updated
4 December 2021
About the service
Kirkland View is a domiciliary care and supported living service providing personal care to people living in and around Kendal. The service supported people in sheltered housing, their own homes and in a shared house. The service specialises in supporting younger adults who may be living with a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder, a physical disability, sensory impairment or who misuse drugs and alcohol. Eleven people were using the service at the time of this inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received safe care from staff that were safely recruited. Staff knew how to manage risks effectively to people, including risks linked to any behaviours that may challenge the service. We made a recommendation about the recording any support provided to people in this area. People’s medicines were managed safely. Any medicine errors, accidents or incidents were used to inform learning at the service, preventing similar issues occurring.
People’s outcomes and feedback about the effectiveness of the service was consistently good. Staff had the necessary knowledge, skills and experience for their roles, which meant people felt confident with their support. People had regular reviews of their care to monitor it and identify any changes needed to meet their needs. People received well coordinated care from the provider, who worked effectively alongside other health and social care professionals.
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. We made a recommendation about the recording of mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right Support, right care, right culture’ is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of ‘Right support, right care, right culture’. The model of care supported people to have choice, control and independence, including access to their community. People received person-centred care, which promoted their human rights and empowered them. There was an integrated approach to their support across health and social care services. The service had values, attitudes, behaviours and care staff and registered managers that had an inclusive approach,
People were supported by care staff that genuinely cared about them and their wellbeing. Staff used respectful language to communicate with and about the needs of the people they were supporting. They were focused on promoting their rights and ensuring people were not discriminated against. People’s privacy and confidentiality were supported.
People experienced person-centred care that reflect their wishes and preferences. Staff adapted used flexible approaches to support people’s wellbeing. People were part of their local communities. Staff were skilled at understanding and meeting people’s communication needs. Further work was needed to consider people’s future care needs, including end of life wishes.
People received support from care staff who had a clear understanding of the provider’s values and were well-led. The registered managers were committed to delivering high quality care to the people that used the service and welcomed suggestions for making any improvements. The provider had recently acquired a supported living house under the service’s location. The provider was working with the registered manager to ensure a smooth transition and implement the provider’s policies and ways of working.
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 20/11/2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on when the service registered.
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.