Background to this inspection
Updated
8 February 2022
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 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.
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
This inspection was announced.
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 and ended on 11 January 2022. We visited the office location on 11 January 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since their registration. 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We were unable to speak to people who were supported by the service due to the risks relating to COVID-19 and people’s well-being; therefore, we spoke with their relatives about their experience of the care provided.
We received feedback from three staff members and spoke with registered manager and nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records and medication records. We looked at four 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 policies and a range of governance records.
Updated
8 February 2022
About the service
New Leaf Supported Living Ltd is a service that provides personal care to people with a learning disability and/or autism. They were supporting two people across two single occupancy households at the time of this inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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 meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. People received care which was focused around their needs and preferences by staff and managers who were dedicated to improve people’s lives and help them reach their potential.
The provider’s values and vision of delivering care was positive. Their aim to maximise people’s choices and control of their lives was embedded in staff practices. This was confirmed by people’s relatives who complimented the approach of managers and staff.
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 aware of their responsibility of raising and reporting safeguarding concerns and knew how to whistle-blow. All incidents and concerns were investigated by the registered manager and shared with relevant professionals and people’s relatives. Any recommendations to prevent further incidents were shared with staff and appropriate adjustments were made to reduce the risk to people.
The provider had ensured that people had experienced a smooth transition into the service. People were supported to carry out activities of their choice and maintain contact with their families.
Suitable numbers of trained staff were employed to support people which meant that they were supported by a consistent staff team who knew them well. Staff told us they felt supported in their role and trained to meet people’s needs. Safe recruitment practices were used to ensure people were supported by staff who were of good character.
The provider maintained a good oversight of the service through observations of staff practices and quality monitoring. Further development of the provider's record keeping was needed across the service to demonstrate that the actions the managers had taken such as exploration of staff backgrounds during the recruitment processes.
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 in January 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This service had not been inspected since their registration; therefore, this inspection was carried out to gain assurances about the quality of care and systems used to monitor and the manage the service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.