Archived: Chosen Lives Co-operative Limited

Updated 22 November 2018

The office visit took place on 25 October 2018 and was announced. We told the registered manager 48 hours before our visit we would be coming so they could make sure they would be available and arrange for us to speak with their staff. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

We inspected the service because it was previously rated 'Requires improvement' and it was time for us to return to check whether the necessary improvements had been made.

Before our inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service. We looked at the information received from our 'Share Your Experience' web forms and the statutory notifications the service had sent us. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law. We also spoke with local authority commissioners. They did not have any information they needed to share with us. Commissioners are people who work to find appropriate care and support services for people and fund the care provided.

We reviewed information the provider had sent us in the Provider Information Collection (PIC). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. During our inspection visit we found the information contained in the PIC accurately reflected how the service operated.

During our visit we spoke with one person who used the service. We also spoke with the registered manager, the operations manager and three staff members. We used this information to form part of our judgements.

We reviewed the care records of one person to see how their care and support was planned and delivered. We looked at three staff recruitment files, staff training records and records associated with the provider's quality monitoring systems.

Updated 22 November 2018

This inspection site visit took place on 25 October 2018 and was announced.

Chosen Lives Co-operative Limited provides care and support to people living in a supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. It provides personal care to adults with learning disabilities in one shared building. Up to eight people can receive a service.

The service is a co-operative which is run by its members. This includes the people who receive a service, the provider’s management team and independent advisors. 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. There were five people using the service at the time of this inspection and one person was in receipt of the regulated activity personal care.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At our last inspection in November 2016, the service was rated 'Requires Improvement'. This was because we identified improvement was required in two of the five key questions we inspect against. These were safe and well-led. We identified one breach in the Regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008. (Regulated) Regulations 2014. The breach was in relation to the service not being effectively monitored and assessed to improve the quality and safety of the service provided to people.

The provider sent us an action plan following that inspection which informed us the required improvements would be completed by 12 April 2017. During this inspection we checked and found the improvements had been made. This meant sufficient action had been taken in response to the breach in regulation. The rating has changed to good.

A requirement of the service's registration is that they have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. A registered manager was in post.

People felt safe. Staff completed safeguarding training and procedures were in place to protect people from harm. Staff knew how to manage risks and risk management plans contained the information staff needed to provide care and support to people in the safest possible way. A system to record and monitor accidents and incidents that occurred was in place.

Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to provide the care and support required. Staff had received an induction when they had started work at the service. A programme of regular training helped staff to keep their skills and knowledge up to date.

Medicines were administered as prescribed by trained and competent staff. Medicine audits took place so if any errors were identified prompt action could be taken.

Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to infection control which protected people from the risks of infection. People’s nutritional needs were met. Staff worked in partnership other health professionals to support people to maintain their health and well-being.

People had opportunities to maintain relationships that were important to them. Staff spoke with people in a respectful way. People were supported to be independent. They were treated with dignity and their right to privacy was respected.

Detailed communication plans described the way people communicated and how staff should engage with them. Care records were up to date and showed the inclusion of the person which included their likes, dislikes and routines.

The provider was working within the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

People were involved in the ongoing development and running of their co-operative. They also had opportunities to provide feedback about the service they received.

A system was in place to manage complaints about the service. No complaints had been received about the service since our last inspection.

People felt the service was well led. Staff enjoyed working at the service and they received management support through individual and team meetings.

We saw a system of effective audits and checks were completed to ensure the safety and quality of the service was maintained.

The registered manager understood the responsibilities and the requirements of their registration and they used different methods to ensure they kept their knowledge of legislation and best practice up to date.