Background to this inspection
Updated
28 April 2021
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
Step Ahead Care Services is a supported living service and 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 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 24 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.
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. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We met with two people who used the service in their own home. We spoke with the nominated individual and one staff member. We looked at a range of documents. These included two people's records related to their care and support, two medicines records, three staff files, staffing rotas, minutes from meetings, and records related to the auditing and monitoring of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. The provider sent us various documents we requested during the inspection. We spoke with the registered manager and one staff member.
Updated
28 April 2021
About the service
Step Ahead Care Services Next Steps is a domiciliary and supported living service providing personal care The service supports people with learning disabilities, autism, older people, younger people and physical disabilities. At the time of the inspection, two people were receiving personal care and support.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
A relative told us they felt the service was safe. Staff understood what action to take if they suspected somebody was being harmed or abused. Staff knew how to report accidents and incidents and a relative told us staff and management communicated well and kept them updated about their relative’s welfare. People had risk assessments to keep them safe from the risks they may face. These were updated as needed and used to inform reviews of people’s care.
People were supported by enough staff who had been recruited safely. The provider supported people safely with medicines.
The provider ensured there was infection control guidance in place. Staff confirmed they were provided with enough personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves. We saw that the provider had, in accordance with government advice, put hand sanitisers near the front door for both staff and people using the service.
People’s healthcare-associated risks were identified and assessed. People’s needs were assessed before they received care from the service. People’s needs were met by staff who were well trained and received regular support and supervision. People’s dietary needs were met effectively.
A relative told us staff were caring and treated them with respect and dignity. People and their relatives were involved in making decisions regarding their care. People were supported to remain as independent as possible.
Care records were up to date, and person centred. People’s cultural and religious needs were respected when planning and delivering care. Discussions with the registered manager and staff showed they respected people’s sexual orientation so that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people could feel accepted and welcomed in the service. The provider had a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to make a complaint.
A relative and staff told us the management of the service were supportive. Staff told us they felt well supported by the registered manager. The service had quality assurance processes in place. The service worked well with other organisations to improve people’s experiences.
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.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were the meeting underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. People's care was person centred and focussed on developing independence with recorded goals on how to achieve this.
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 inadequate (published 24 October 2019) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
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.