Background to this inspection
Updated
2 August 2018
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
The last inspection published on 14 March 2016 found that the service was rated good.
This comprehensive inspection took place on 17 and 18 May 2018 and was announced. We gave the registered managers 48 hours’ notice of the inspection to ensure they were available at the time of our visit, and to make appointments to visit people at home. This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR and other information we held about the service prior to the inspection. This included the notifications we had received from the provider. Notifications are changes, events or incidents the provider is legally obliged to send us within required timescales.
We visited the office location and looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service. These included six people’s care plans, six staff personnel files, policies, procedures, audits and quality assurance documents.
We visited 12 people living in the Devizes and Trowbridge areas, where we spoke with people about their care and saw their care records. We spoke with 16 members of staff, four relatives and two visiting professionals.
Updated
2 August 2018
We inspected Brandon Trust Supported Living – Wiltshire on 17 and 18 May 2018. The inspection was announced. At the time of our inspection Brandon Trust were supporting 12 people who were living in their own homes.
This service provides care and support to people living in eight supported living settings, so that they can live in their own home 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 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.
There were three registered managers in post. 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.
At our last inspection we rated the service as good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
People told us they were safe. Staff were knowledgeable and knew how to recognise and report any concerns. Risks to people’s safety were assessed and recorded with guidance for staff on how to manage those risks. Medicines were stored, administered and managed safely.
People were supported by staff who had the training, skills and knowledge to undertake their role effectively. Staff had access to one to one support from their line manager.
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 support this practice.
People told us the service was caring. People’s achievements were celebrated in ‘good news stories’. People and staff had developed positive, compassionate and trusting relationships. Care and support plans were person centred. People were treated with dignity, respect and kindness.
People received care which was responsive to their needs and accommodated changes when needed. There were a variety of activities available according to individual likes and dislikes.
The service was well-led. People and their relatives told us they thought the service was well managed and organised. The registered managers had systems in place to audit and monitor the quality of the service. The values of the service were demonstrated throughout the staff group.