Background to this inspection
Updated
18 September 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 was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in a supported living setting, 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 who was in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission. The registered manager 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
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included information from other agencies and statutory notifications sent to us by the manager about events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about 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 of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service. We spent time observing the care and support people received. We spoke with the manager, the deputy manager and a support worker. We reviewed a range of records. These included two care plans and multiple medication records. We looked at one staff file in relation to recruitment and supervision records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, were reviewed.
After the inspection
We were contacted by an area manager of the provider who wanted to discuss the feedback provided at the end of the inspection and matters arising.
Updated
18 September 2019
About the service
289 Dyke Road provides personal care in a supported living setting for up to 11 people living with a learning disability and/or autism. At the time of the inspection, nine people were receiving a service. 289 Dyke Road is a large, detached house and communal facilities include a sitting/dining area, kitchen, laundry facilities and access to gardens. Staff provide people with the regulated activity of personal care at all times of the day and night.
The service applied the principles and values of 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. People’s support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service had not been consistently well-managed since the last manager de-registered in September 2018. However, interim arrangements had been implemented so that overall oversight of the service was maintained by a manager from one of the provider’s other services. The provider and senior management team were aware of the issues in relation to the management of the home. Audits identified similar concerns to those found at this inspection. Care plans and risk assessments for people had not been regularly updated or reviewed. Staff had not had regular supervisions in recent months. The new manager, supported by the provider’s senior managers, had taken action to address the shortfalls found at inspection. Within a week of the inspection taking place, all care plans had been reviewed and updated and all staff had received a supervision.
People were involved in all aspects of the service and made suggestions on how the service was run. They were encouraged to make decisions relating to their care and support; their independence was supported and promoted. 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.
Before people came to live at the service, a period of transition enabled them to experience what it was like before they moved in. When new people were referred by a local authority, the existing service users met with them and gave their feedback.
People were supported by kind and caring staff who had received training and understood their roles and responsibilities. Care plans provided information about people in a person-centred way. People planned how they wanted to spend their days. Some undertook voluntary work and one person worked in a shop. People were encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle and staff supported them in menu planning and cooking. People had access to a range of healthcare professionals and services.
People were protected from harm by staff who understood what actions to take if they suspected any form of abuse. Risks to people were identified and assessed as needed with guidance for staff which was followed. There were enough staff to support people and additional staff were available when people wanted to go out during the day or in the evening. Medicines were managed safely.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published September 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.