Creative Support - Beardall Court

Updated 10 October 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 21September 2018 and was announced.

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location provides a domiciliary care service for younger adults who are often out during the day. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service as part of our inspection. This included the notifications we had received from the provider. Notifications are changes, events or incidents the provider is legally obliged to send CQC within required timescales. We also contacted commissioners from the local authorities who contracted people’s care and other professionals who supported people using the service.

During the inspection we spoke with two people who used the service, two support staff, the team leader and the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records about people’s care and how the service was managed. We looked at care records for two people, recruitment, training and induction records for four staff, one medicines record, staffing rosters, staff meeting minutes and quality assurance audits the team leader had completed.

Updated 10 October 2018

This inspection took place on 21 September 2018 and was announced.

Creative Support-Beardall Court provides support to eight people with learning disabilities, autism or associated related conditions. Personal care is provided to four of the people who use the service. People live in self-contained flats, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. Two of the four people who receive personal care receive outreach support as they live nearby in their own homes. 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.

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 impairment using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At our last inspection in May 2016 we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns.

This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People told us they felt safe and were well cared for. They told us their privacy, dignity and confidentiality were maintained. There were sufficient staff hours available currently to meet people’s needs in a safe and timely way, and staff roles were flexible to allow this. Staffing capacity was to be reviewed as some people’s needs were changing as they were becoming more dependent.

People were protected as staff had received training about safeguarding and knew how to respond to any allegation of abuse. There were other opportunities for staff to receive training to meet people’s care needs. A system was in place for staff to receive supervision and appraisal.

Staff knew about safeguarding vulnerable adults procedures. Staff were subject to robust recruitment checks. Arrangements for managing people’s medicines were also safe. Appropriate processes were in place for the administration of medicines.

People were supported to have maximum control over their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; policies and procedures supported this practice. Staff knew the people they were supporting well and people were empowered to make meaningful decisions about how they lived their lives. People were supported to become as independent as possible whatever their level of need, to enable them to lead a more fulfilled life.

People had access to health care professionals to make sure they received appropriate care and treatment. Staff followed advice given by professionals to make sure people received the care they needed. People were encouraged to maintain a healthy diet.

Risk assessments were in place and they accurately identified current risks to the person as well as ways for staff to minimise or appropriately manage those risks. Records did not reflect the care provided by staff. We have made a recommendation about support plans being more person-centred with a system of more regular evaluation.

People were provided with opportunities to follow their interests and hobbies and they were introduced to new activities. People were encouraged and supported to go out and engage with the local community and maintain relationships that were important to them.

Systems were in place to monitor and review the quality and effectiveness of the service. People had the opportunity to give their views about the service. There was regular consultation with people or family members and their views were used to improve the service. Staff and people who used the service said the registered manager was supportive and approachable.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.