9 January 2015
During a routine inspection
This announced inspection took place on 9th January. 2015. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a supported living service for people with a variety of needs including, learning disabilities, mental health conditions, physical disabilities and sensory impairments; The people using this service often accessed community services and we needed to be sure that someone would be in.
During our previous inspection visit on the 10th October 2013 we found the service met all the national standards we looked at. Since then there had been no incidents or concerns raised that needed investigation.
There was a registered manager in post on the day of our inspection visit. 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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.
At the time of our inspection the service provided support to 23 people who lived in eight properties in the Carlisle area. During our inspection we spoke with 5 people who lived in two different properties. We spoke to three support staff, two supervisors and the administrative assistant. We spoke to the registered manager following her return from annual leave.
We found that people who used this service were safe. The support workers knew how to protect people from harm. All staff had completed training in safety of vulnerable adults and knew the signs to look for and how to and report any areas of concern. There were good systems to ensure people knew the staff that supported them.
Cumbria Care, the registered provider, had put in place robust recruitment procedures to ensure only suitable people worked in this service. We saw that staffing levels were good throughout all areas of the service. Staff training was up to date. All staff were supported by the management team through regular staff supervision and appraisals.
The service worked well with external agencies such as social services, other care providers and mental health professionals to provide appropriate care to meet people’s physical and emotional needs.
Observations during our inspection evidenced people were given choices about how they wanted to be supported and live their lives. Opportunities were given to people to go out into the community visit their families and go on holiday.
The service followed the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of practice. This helped to protect the rights of people who were not able to make important decisions themselves. Best interest meetings were held to assist people who were not always able to make difficult decisions for themselves.
Healthcare needs were met through close working relationships with the GPs and district nursing service. Access to external mental health professional services was available.
Support staff knew the people they supported well. They provided a caring environment for people to live in. We saw people being treated in a dignified manner with their privacy upheld at all times.
Personalised care plans were in place in a format that was suitable through pictures and symbols as well as writing. People who used the service had a voice through regular tenants meetings held in each of the houses.
There was an appropriate internal quality monitoring procedure in place. This ensured people were cared for and supported in the way they wanted to be.