Spencer & Arlington

Updated 13 July 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. 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 two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in a number of ‘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 had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity took place on the 12 June 2019.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection, we looked at information we had received about the service. This included any notifications from the provider. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. 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 process

We spoke with four people who received a service and four relatives. We spoke with the registered manager and four staff working in the service. We looked at seven people's care records and records relating to five staff members. We also looked at the provider's arrangements for managing medicines, supporting staff, managing complaints, and monitoring and assessing the quality of the services provided.

Updated 13 July 2019

About the service

Spencer and Arlington provide personal care to people in their own home. The service supports some people on a 24-hour basis and others who may require support with personal care needs at specific times during the day and/or night. Some people using the service lived in supported living houses. The facilities are shared, in mixed housing for groups of up to four people. The service was supporting 71 people with personal care at the time of our inspection.

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 was appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Without exception, people were positive about the service. One relative said, “I am very, very happy. I would recommend it most definitely. I can contact them anytime. I know [Name] is safe and well looked after.”

People received their medicine correctly, and staff had been trained. Medication audits and spot checks were carried out. Systems and processes were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff knew how to prevent the spread of infection.

Assessments were in place which detailed people’s needs and choices. Staff had been trained and were given regular supervision. People were supported to eat and drink in line with their assessed needs. Staff worked with other agencies to supply consistent, effective, timely care. People were supported to live healthier lives and could access healthcare services when they needed to. 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.

Staff were kind, caring and compassionate and supported people to maintain their relationships with friends and relatives. People were supported to avoid social isolation. Staff could clearly explain how they supported people in a dignified and respectful way.

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.

Care was personalised and ensured people had choice and control which met their individual needs and preferences. The service considered how they could meet people’s communication needs, and information was available to them in different formats. The provider had a complaints procedure in place, and people knew how to complain if they needed to. At the time of the inspection, people using the service were vibrant and did not always want to consider end of life care. We have made a recommendation about end of life care.

The service had a well-defined management structure; roles had been defined. Audits were in place people were encouraged to give their feedback about the service. This information was used to look at how the service could be improved. Regular surveys were carried out with a range of people, relatives, staff, and professionals. Information was used to make improvements to the service.

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) The last rating for this service was Good (12 December 2016)

Why we inspected This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.