Cambridgeshire County Council - 8b Wagstaff Close Cambridge

Cambridgeshire County Council 8b Wagstaff Close is a supported living service providing personal care to people with learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection two people were receiving personal care. The people lived together in one house and staff support was provided for 24 hours each day.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were safe using the service because staff knew what they were doing, they had been trained and the building they lived in was secure. There were enough staff, and the then registered manager also visited people regularly.

People told us they always received their medicines and that staff knew how these should be given. Medicine records were completed accurately and with enough detail. Staff supported people with meals and drinks. Staff took action to reduce the risks of spreading infection. Staff followed advice from health care professionals and made sure they asked people’s consent before caring for them.

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.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People liked the staff that cared for them. People told us that staff were “nice”, and “lovely”. They went on to tell us that staff supported them to live as they wanted. Staff were kind and caring, they involved people in their care and made sure people’s privacy was respected. Staff worked well together, they understood the service’s aim to deliver high quality care, which helped people to continue to live in their own homes.

Systems to monitor how well the service was operating were carried out well. Where concerns were identified, the registered manager followed this up to make sure action was taken to rectify the issue.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (Published 17 May 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.

At our last inspection, on 11 February 2015, the service was rated as good. At this inspection we found the service remained good.

People were cared for by staff who provided care and support that ensured people's safety and welfare and took into account each person’s individual preferences. People were supported to manage their medicines safely. People were cared for by staff who had been recruited and employed only after appropriate checks had been completed.

There were sufficient staff available safely meet people’s needs and support them with a variety of activities. Staff were sufficiently skilled, experienced and supported to enable them to meet people's needs effectively.

People were effectively supported with decision making and supported to have as much choice and control of their lives as possible. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet with suitable food and fluid. People were supported to access healthcare when they required it.

People received care and support from staff who were caring, respectful and friendly. Staff treated people with respect and dignity. Staff knew the people they supported well, and understood, and met, their individual preferences and support needs. People’s care plans provided staff with sufficient guidance to provide consistent care to each person.

Staff supported people to maintain relationships that were important to them. People were encouraged to access the community and develop individual interests and hobbies. Staff supported people to maintain existing, relationships that were important to them.

The provider continued to have a robust complaints procedure in place. The service was well managed. There were effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service people received.

Care and support was being regularly reviewed to ensure that peoples' needs were being met. There was evidence of people's involvement in the planning of their care and support.

Staff were trained in the safe administration of medication. Records of administration were accurately completed.

Staff had received regular supervision. Staff training arrangements were in place that ensured staff delivered safe care and support to people.

Quality assurance procedures were in place to monitor the running of the service and people using the service were able to raise any issues and concerns with the management team.

We carried out this inspection, on 14 March 2013, to check if the improvements had been made and the provider was compliant with the regulations. During this inspection, we spent time at the service talking with the manager, speaking with staff and looking at records to check compliance.