Background to this inspection
Updated
22 June 2023
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of 1 inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
This service was providing regulated care and support to people living in five ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing were provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We gave the provider 24 hours’ notice that inspection activity was commencing. This was because we wanted to meet with people living in their own homes and we needed to understand people’s level of capacity to be able to consent to this.
Inspection activity started on 25 April 2023 and ended on 09 May 2023. We visited the office and settings where people lived on 2 May, 3 May and 9 May 2023.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service and sought feedback from the local authority and other professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We visited the five settings where people received a regulated activity to meet with people and observe their interactions with staff. We observed medicines being administered to 3 people. During the course of our inspection activity, we spoke with 16 people and made telephone calls to 8 relatives to get feedback about their experiences of using the service. We also met with 9 members of staff, including the registered manager and the two deputy managers (the management team).
We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people’s care records and 3 medication records. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, rotas, the training matrix and meeting minutes.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to corroborate our findings. We also spoke with our colleagues in partner agencies to ensure appropriate safeguarding measures were in place.
Updated
22 June 2023
About the service
SeeAbility Redhill Support Services provides support for autistic people, people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or mental health needs. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.
At the time of this inspection, the service was providing support within the regulated activity of personal care to 20 people across six ‘supported living’ settings. The settings included accommodation in small, shared houses and small blocks of flats.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
Right Support: people were encouraged to learn new skills and do things that were meaningful and excited them. There were always enough staff on duty. Staff worked flexibly to ensure people were supported by suitable staff and able to lead the lives they wanted.
People experienced choice and control over their lives and their individual communication methods were understood and respected. People were supported to maintain and improve their physical and mental health.
Right Care: people were supported by a team of committed, kind and caring staff. Staff supported people with skill; always upholding privacy and dignity. Staff recognised the subtle signs that people were anxious and distressed and worked collaboratively to care for them. Staff had a good understanding about how to safeguard people and were committed to upholding their human rights. Risks to the health, safety and well-being were identified and mitigated.
Right Culture: The atmosphere across the service was relaxed and friendly with lots of fun and laughter being shared. Positive relationships between people and staff had been developed that were based on trust and respect. People and relatives were confident to raise concerns or suggest changes for the service as well as to the way they received support. Staff enjoyed their work because they felt valued and supported by the management team. Leaders role modelled the values of inclusivity and promoted personal growth and professional development which was reflected with the way staff provided support to people.
Quality assurance processes facilitated continuous improvement. Learning was shared from within and outside the organisation and community contacts were well established.
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 on 18 January 2022, and this is the first inspection.
The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good published on 13 February 2019.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection to provide a rating for the service following its re-registration.
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of right support, right care, right culture.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.