Background to this inspection
Updated
2 August 2019
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, 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 used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal 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
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spent time sitting with people and their PAs and observing their support and interactions. We also read feedback surveys people and relatives had completed about the service. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager and PAs.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. No new staff had started since the last inspection and we therefore did not check recruitment records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including supervision information, quality checks and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
2 August 2019
About the service
Brighter Days Staffordshire Limited is a supported living service providing personal care to three younger adults with a learning disability or autism at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to three people living in their own house. There was a room for staff on so called ‘sleep-in’ shifts during the night, but the house was respected and maintained as people’s own tenancy.
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’s experience of using the service was very positive and people felt safe with support from staff. Within the service, staff were referred to as Personal Assistants (PAs) and we have used this term throughout the report. Feedback from people, relatives and PAs told us that this was a very settled service where people felt comfortable. Together, everyone involved in the service had created a supportive, family-like atmosphere and positive outcomes were achieved. We considered with the team that to continuously develop the service, it would be beneficial to stay informed of current best practice models. We made a recommendation regarding this.
Support from PAs was flexible around people’s interests, needs and choices. The team of PAs had remained consistent since our last inspection and no new staff had started. This had a positive impact on the stability of people’s care and support. People and PAs knew each other well, which was clear from the personalised ways in which they interacted, as well as the smiles and laughter shared.
People were actively involved in their community, through things they enjoyed doing. This included volunteering in care homes, regularly visiting the local pub or holding a weekly music club for others in the community to attend. People, families and PAs were involved in the development of the service through regular reviews and meetings.
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 service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. 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.
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 14 February 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.