Archived: Turning Point - Worcestershire

Updated 12 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

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in four ‘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 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 27 June 2019 and ended on 04 July 2019. We visited the office location on 28 July 2019.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority, healthwatch and professionals who work with the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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 of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, senior care workers, and care workers. We visited one of the homes where the service was provided with the person’s consent.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two 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 were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with one social care professional who has been regularly involved with the service.

Updated 12 July 2019

About the service

Turning point Worcester is a supported living service providing personal care for eleven people at the time of the inspection.

The service provides support for people living in four bungalows in Worcestershire. There is a bungalow in Worcestershire that accommodates two people separately, three people live together at Droitwich house. There were two further homes around Kidderminster that support three people in each.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

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 is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service were small homes, similar to most domestic style properties. Each home followed the current best practice guidance and the most people living together were three people. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

People and their relatives were very positive about management team and the support provided.

People were supported by staff who knew how to keep them safe and protect them from avoidable harm. People were supported by regular staff who they knew well. People were supported to be as independent as possible with their medicines, and systems were in place for the safe management of medicines. Incidents and accidents were reported and investigated, and actions were taken to prevent recurrence. Staff followed infection control and prevention procedures.

People's needs were assessed, and support was delivered by staff who were well trained and knowledgeable about people's needs. 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.

People were cared for by staff who were compassionate and kind. Relatives said staff were patient and caring towards them and their family member. People and their relatives felt involved and supported in decision making. People were encourage with their independence and achievable goals set to improve people’s well-being.

Staff were passionate about meeting people's individual needs and wishes and had an in-depth knowledge about each person. Relatives confirmed staff knew their family members well. People's concerns were listened to and action was taken in a timely way.

The management team were open, approachable and focussed on providing person centred care. Systems were in place to monitor the quality of care provided. The management team and staff communicated effectively and shared a passion for championing the rights for people they supported.

The service applied the principles and values Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

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.

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 10 August 2017 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a first rating inspection.

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.