SENSE - Supported Living Services (East Anglia)

Updated 19 March 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type:

This service provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type:

This service provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

The service currently provides support to two people who each live in their own flat. Staff provide support 24 hours a day on a rota basis, with sleep in cover at night.

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. They are referred to as the “registered manager” throughout the report.

Notice of inspection:

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

What we did:

Before the inspection we looked at all the information that we had about the service.

• This included information from statutory notifications. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

• We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

• We also contacted professionals working with the service for their views.

During the inspection

• We spoke to the registered manager, the deputy manager and two support staff. The deputy manager also worked in the service providing care.

• We spoke to one person who used the service and one relative.

• We reviewed two people’s care records.

• We looked at the medicine administration records (MAR) and supporting documents for two people.

• We looked at records relating to the governance and management of the service.

• After the inspection we asked the registered manager to send us further documents which we received and reviewed.

Updated 19 March 2019

About the service: Sense Supported Living Services (East Anglia) provides care and support to people with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection it was providing support to two people who used the regulated service. This service provides care and support to people living in “supported living” settings so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible.

People’s experience of using this service:

• The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

• People were protected from abuse, neglect and discrimination.

• There was a positive approach to risk taking. Individual risks to people were assessed and managed to keep people safe while promoting their independence.

• Medicine systems were organised and people were receiving their medicines when they should.

• We made recommendations that were actioned about the auditing of medicines administration and to follow best practice guidance in relation to medicines taken as required (PRN).

• People’s needs were assessed holistically and staff were person-centred in the way that they supported people.

• People were supported by staff who had ongoing training to meet their needs.

• People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

• Staff were kind and caring and the service matched people with staff that shared interests and could meet their needs.

• The service was responsive to people’s needs. People were supported to pursue interests and hobbies and take an active role in the community.

• The service was well led and managed. The registered manager had made improvements to the service over the past year which people, relatives and staff were very positive about.

• Their was a commitment to continual learning and improvement in the service. Feedback from people, relatives and staff were used to develop an action plan for the service.

For more details please see the full report which is on the CQC website www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated good. (Report published 12 September 2016)

Why we inspected This was a scheduled planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up: Going forward we will continue to monitor this service and plan to inspect in line with our reinspection schedule for those services rated good.