Background to this inspection
Updated
24 May 2019
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. This inspection was planned to check 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.
One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type.
Autism Care Community Service provides care and support to people living in three separate ‘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.
At the time of the inspection the service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. A registered manager from Lifeways Community Care was providing management oversight and support for the services.
Notice of inspection.
We gave the service five days’ notice of the inspection because some of the people using the service could not consent to a home visit from an inspector, which meant that we had to arrange for a ‘best interests’ decision about this.
What we did before the inspection.
We reviewed information we had received about the service from the provider since the last inspection, such as serious injuries. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.
The provider had not completed the required Provider Information Return. 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.
During the inspection.
We met with two people who used the service and spoke with four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff. This included the deputy manager and two support workers, two senior service managers and the registered manager from Lifeways Community Care (Halifax).
We looked at a range of records. This included two people’s care and medication records. We looked at three staff recruitment and supervision records. Multiple records relating to the management of the service and a variety of policies and procedures implemented by Lifeways Community Care since December 2018.
Updated
24 May 2019
About the service.
Autism Care Community Services (Yorkshire) provides a supported living service and personal care service to people aged 18 and over in their own homes. At the time of the inspection the services were supporting four people.
In December 2018, Lifeways Community Care (Halifax) became the corporate provider of Autism Care 2 Uk Limited and the location Autism Care Community Services (Yorkshire). At the time of inspection Lifeways Community Care (Halifax) were in the process of making changes to the service and embedding new provider practices within the service.
Not everyone using Autism Care Community Services (Yorkshire) receives 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 take into account any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service.
The principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance ensure people with a learning disability and or autism who use a service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best outcomes that include control, choice and independence. At this inspection the provider had ensure they were applied.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support. For example, people’s support focused on them having choice and control over the care and support they received and as many opportunities as possible to become more independent.
There was no registered manager in post at time of the inspection. Relatives and staff told us how there had been several managerial changes over the past four years which had led to inconsistencies within the service.
Staff recruitment and training records showed the appropriate checks had not always been undertaken before people started work and, some staff had not received training the provider deemed as mandatory. Staff had also not received regular supervision.
People received their care from a small consistent staff team who they had trusting relationships with. Relatives told us they were happy with the care and support being provided by the service.
People were supported to maintain and develop their independence. Staff treated people as individuals and respected their privacy and lifestyle choices.
The management team ensured people received a safe service with systems and processes in place which helped to minimise risks. Staff effectively reported any safeguarding matters. All incidents were critically analysed, lessons were learnt and used to improve practice.
People, their relatives and health and social care professionals were now actively involved in decisions being made about the care people received.
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.
People were receiving their medicines when they should. New systems had been introduced which followed national guidance for medication arrangements.
The management team were open and honest which enabled people to share their views and raise concerns. Relatives told us if they were worried about anything they would be comfortable to talk with a member of staff.
The management team monitored quality, acted quickly when change was required, sought people's views and planned ongoing improvements to the services.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update.
At the last inspection the service was rated requires improvement (published 10 May 2018). Although improvements were being made, the service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last two consecutive inspections.
Previous breaches.
Following the last inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider is no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.