We carried out a review of the data available to us about Basildon Supported Living Service on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Basildon Supported Living Service, you can give feedback on this service.
We last inspected the service on 22 June 2016 at which time it was rated Good. At this inspection, we rated the service as Good.
This service provides care and support to three people living in two ‘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 only.
The care service had 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.
There was a registered manager in post who was also the registered provider. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.
The service was extremely well led by a registered manager who demonstrated exceptional values, a passion and dedication towards improving the lives of the people the service supported. They led by example which was underpinned by a human rights approach based on ensuring people had equality, choice, autonomy and freedom to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives. The registered manager was highly valued by people, staff and professionals and was described as someone who went that extra mile to support the people in their care.
People who used the service were safe and at very at ease with staff. Risks to people had been individually assessed and staff knew what to do to manage those risks which supported people to do the things they wanted and live their lives as independently as possible.
Staff were trained in safeguarding and were able to describe types of abuse and what they could do to protect people from the risk of harm. Medicines were stored, administered and disposed of safely by staff who had been trained and assessed as competent in medicine management.
There were sufficient staff who had been safely recruited to meet people's needs. Spot checks were carried out to ensure the quality and competency of staff was of a high standard. Infection control measures were in place for staff to protect people from the risk of infection through training, cleanliness and the use of protective clothing where required.
People’s needs had been assessed including their strengths and abilities which promoted their , rights and autonomy. Staff had the knowledge and skills to support people appropriately and to be competent in their role. 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.
The service assisted people to have food and drinks of their choices and assisted them to have a balanced diet. Staff provided support as needed to help people access healthcare services and maintain their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
People were always respected by staff and treated with kindness. We saw staff being respectful, considerate and communicating well with people. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible and maintain relationships that were important to them. Staff helped people to have an active and fulfilling social life. People had opportunities to access the community and engage in a range of activities of their choice at home and in the community.
There were systems in place to respond to complaints. People and their relatives were provided with information on how to make a complaint or raise concerns. A quality assurance system was in place and audits of the service completed. People who used the service and their representatives were regularly asked for their views about the service and these were used to improve the service.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
The service was run by the provider who was also the registered manager. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Relatives of people who used the service told us their family members were safe. Systems and processes were in place to ensure the safe recruitment of staff with sufficient numbers of staff employed to safely meet people's needs.
The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities in terms of safeguarding people from abuse and managing risk. Potential risks had been identified with steps recorded of how the risk could be reduced. People received safe care that met their needs, protected them from harm whilst promoting their freedom and rights to exercise choice and control.
People were supported with their medicines by staff who were trained and assessed as competent to give medicines safely.
Staff and the management team had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and people were supported to make their own decisions wherever possible. Staff asked for people’s consent before supporting people in ways they were comfortable with. People were supported to make choices about their day to day lives.
Staff were supported to carry out their role effectively. There was a regular programme of training with opportunities for specialist training relevant to meeting the needs of the people using the service. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink to maintain their health whilst respecting their preferences.
People had access to health professionals when needed and we saw the care and support provided was in line with what had been recommended. When people became unwell staff responded quickly and sought the appropriate support.
Care was personalised and met people's individual needs and preferences. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and promoted their independence and they had formed positive relationships with people who used the services.
People, or their representatives, where appropriate, were involved in making decisions about their care and support and felt listened to and included. Relatives told us they felt able to raise any concerns with the registered manager. Staff told us that the registered manager was approachable and accessible.
There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and the registered manager was committed to improving the service and comments and concerns were used constructively to drive improvements.