Archived: Head Office

During this inspection we set out to answer our five questions; Is the service safe? Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service effective? Is the service well led?

Below is a summary of what we found. If you wish to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.

Is the service safe?

We found that people were protected from the risk of poor care because suitable records were kept concerning all aspects of their care. Their support needs were documented appropriately. Records relating to the operation of the supported living home were appropriately maintained such as those relating to health and safety. Suitable processes were in place to monitor the quality of the service and identify any potential problems so they could be addressed in a timely manner.

Is the service caring?

We observed the way that staff interacted with people who lived in the supported living home. We saw that this was positive and caring. People were smiling and appeared comfortable being supported by staff. Staff adapted the way they communicated with people who lived at the supported living home to ensure that they were communicating effectively.

Is the service responsive?

We found that suitable processes were in place to ensure that any issues could be identified and remedied in a timely manner. Where it had been identified that improvements were needed these were implemented.

Is the service effective?

We found that people's needs had been assessed before they moved into the supported living home. Detailed care plans were in place to ensure that their needs were identified and daily records showed how their needs were met. Staff worked effectively with healthcare professionals and others to ensure that they were meeting the needs of the people who lived at the supported living home.

Is the service well-led?

Staff we spoke with told us that the manager of the service was approachable and supportive. We found that the manager had suitable knowledge, experience and skills to lead the staff team effectively and ensure that the needs of people who lived at the supported living home were met. Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service.

We set out to answer our five questions; Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service well led?

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, discussions with people using the service, the staff supporting them and looking at records. If you wish to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.

Is the service safe?

People who used the service had some communication difficulties. Two out of four people who used the service told us that they were happy with the support.

We saw that staff treated people who used the service with dignity and respect. For example, we saw that staff knocked on bedroom doors before entering and spoke with people in a kind and respectful manner.

Some staff had not received training in order for them to carry out their roles. For example, some staff had not undertaken training on how to manage challenging behaviour.

Some records were incomplete or missing. Some records had not been dated properly and other records had been misfiled. A compliance action has been set in relation to this and the provider must tell us how they plan to improve.

Is the service Effective?

People that used the service had been supported to make their own choices to maintain independence. For example, we saw that the service had supported one person to increase the amount of days per week that they attended college as the person had requested this.

We found that support plans been signed by people who used the service and staff. However, risk assessments and care plans had not been signed or dated by people who used the service or their relatives so we could not be sure that people who used the service had been involved in the planning and assessment process.

Staff had undertaken training relevant to their roles, this included training relating to moving and handling, epilepsy and medication. We saw that staff competency to administer medication had been checked.

Is the service caring?

We saw that people who used the service had been supported to do activities in their home and in the local community.

Staff were knowledgeable about the communication and care needs of the people who used the service. We observed staff helping people to communicate their choices by showing people different drinks and different cups. We saw that this helped people to choose; we saw that they pointed to the items they wanted.

We saw that that an easy to read copy of the complaints policy was available at the supported living home and that each person who used the service had a copy in their bedroom.

Is the service responsive?

We saw that risk assessments had been carried out to reduce the risks to people who used the service.

Is the service well led?

Each of the care files contained a recent photograph of the person who used the service and a description of that person, in case the person went missing.

People who used the service and their families had been asked about their opinions about the service.

The provider carried out audits; however these had not included an audit of the care and support, had not looked at records and had not gained feedback from people who used the service, their relatives or staff. A compliance action has been set in relation to this and the provider must tell us how they plan to improve.

The provider recorded accidents and incidents and took appropriate action when required to reduce risk to staff and people who used the service.