Creative Support - Blackpool Service

Updated 28 December 2018

The Inspection ¿ 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.

The inspection team ¿ Consisted of an adult social care inspector and an expert by experience.

An expert by experience had experience of caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The expert by experience had a background supporting older people.

Service and service type ¿ This service provides personal care to people living in their own homes and flats. It also provides support for 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. CQC does not regulate premises for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s care and support.

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.

Notice of inspection ¿ This comprehensive inspection visit took place on 04 and 5th December 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provided a domiciliary care service to people who lived in the community. We needed to be sure that we could access the office premises.

What we did preparing for and carrying out this inspection ¿ Before our inspection we completed our planning; tool and reviewed the information we held on the service. This included notifications we had received from the provider, about incidents that affect the health, safety and welfare of people supported by the service and previous inspection reports.

We also checked to see if any information concerning the care and welfare of people supported by the service had been received. We contacted the commissioning departments who used the service. This helped us to gain a balanced overview of what people experienced accessing the service.

As part of the inspection we used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. 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.

During the inspection visit we spoke with a range of people about Creative Support and visited two supported houses. They included 11 people who used the service, the registered manager, area manager and the care co-ordinator. We also spoke with four relatives of people who used the service, nine support staff and two social care professionals. In addition, we spoke with two senior care staff who managed supported houses.

We looked at records relating to the management of the service. We did this to ensure the management team had oversight of the service and they could respond to any concerns highlighted or lead the agency in ongoing improvements. We also looked at staffing levels and recruitment procedures for staff and focussed on how staff provided care within the supported homes.

Updated 28 December 2018

What life is like for people using this service:

People who received support in their own homes or a supported living house and their relatives told us they felt safe and protected in the care of Creative Support staff.

People who lived in supported housing and in the community, 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. We found the management team had obtained each person’s consent to care, or their representatives where this was applicable.

Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.

Care plan information focused on a person-centred method of supporting people. Also, information contained what support was required to maintain their independence within their own home and in supported living houses.

During the inspection visit to supported living houses we observed staff being kind and attentive to people in their care. They were caring, patient and respectful. One relative commented, “They are great and caring towards everyone.”

People supported by the service told us they were treated with respect and by caring staff.

People told us and staff confirmed to us there were enough staff on duty to ensure people received care in a timely way. In addition, sufficient staff were deployed so that people had opportunity to access a wide range of activities including access to the local community settings.

The management team used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included staff meetings, spot checks and surveys to seek people’s views about the service provided.

There was a complaints procedure which was made available to people and their family when they commenced using the service. People we spoke with told us they were happy with the support they received.

More information is in Detailed Findings below.

Rating at last inspection:

Good (report published 16 May 2016).

About the service:

Creative Support provides care and support services for people with learning disabilities and other complex needs. The service is involved in providing community and outreach Support and supported housing. The domiciliary agency office is based close to the town centre in Blackpool. The agency cares for adults with learning disabilities in supported houses and outreach support for people living alone or with families. The agency supports people in Fleetwood, Cleveleys and Blackpool. The service provides care and support varying from short visits to 24 hours a day support. At The time of the inspection visit the service supported 59 people in supported houses and in their own homes.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained rated good overall.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme or if any issues or concerns are identified.