Southview

Updated 22 June 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 unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 11 and 18 April 2018.

The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

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. We also reviewed the information we held about the service and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We spoke to four people receiving a service and nine members of staff, which included the registered manager and community manager. We also spent time in communal areas observing the interactions between people and staff.

We reviewed four people’s care files, four staff files, staff training records and a selection of policies, procedures and records relating to the management of the service. After our visit we sought feedback from relatives and health and social care professionals to obtain their views of the service provided to people. We received feedback from six relatives and three professionals.

Updated 22 June 2018

This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 11 and 18 April 2018.

Southview is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for up to six adults. Southview is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

It is also registered to provide personal care in people’s own homes, such as for domiciliary care and supported living. The service is intended for people who have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection there were six people living within Southview and 15 people were receiving a service within their own homes. The times of visits ranged from 30 minutes, up to four times per day to 24 hours per day.

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 disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Staff were highly skilled and had a natural aptitude to give reassurance and comfort. They treated people with the utmost dignity and respect when helping them with daily living tasks.

People received exceptionally personalised care and support specific to their needs and preferences. There was an excellent understanding of seeing each person as an individual, with their own social needs.

The service strived to provide people and those that matter to them with rich and fulfilled lives. They had actively sourced new opportunities for people to connect with the world and with others. An innovative community project introduced since the last inspection was arranging for people to attend Exeter prison gym. Lots of work was undertaken to make this connection.

People were supported to have a peaceful, comfortable and dignified end of life care in line with national best practice guidance.

The provider was forward thinking. They provided strong leadership; was a good role model for all staff and drove up excellent practice to provide people with opportunities. They had established a service where staff were clear about the values and ethos of the service. It had a positive culture that was person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering. Staff were supported to reach their true potential.

Relatives, professionals and staff described the service in outstanding terms. A relative commented: “My sister spent many happy years at Southview. Southview was everything we could have wished for, happy, supportive, professional staff and management. A happy home. I would not only recommend Southview I would say it should be held up as a beacon of excellence.”

People felt safe and staff demonstrated a good understanding of what constituted abuse and how to report if concerns were raised. Measures to manage risk were as least restrictive as possible to protect people’s freedom. People’s rights were protected because the service followed the appropriate legal processes. Medicines were safely managed on people’s behalf.

There were effective staff recruitment and selection processes in place. Staffing arrangements were flexible in order to meet people’s individual needs. Staff received a range of training and regular support to keep their skills up to date in order to support people appropriately.

The provider strived to provide the best possible service for people. A number of effective methods were used to assess the quality and safety of the service people received and changes and improvements were made in response.