We carried out a review of the data available to us about UK Care (Special Needs) Limited on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about UK Care (Special Needs) Limited, you can give feedback on this service.
UK Care (Special Needs) Limited provides the regulated activity of personal care to people living in a supporting living accommodation setting. The service aims to support people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. At the time of this inspection there were seven people receiving personal care.
At our last inspection we rated the service ‘Good’, however, the service was rated requires improvement under well-led as concerns were noted around the way in which the service communicated with relatives about changes to the staff team. At this inspection we found that the service had addressed this concern and the evidence we looked at continued to support the rating of ‘Good’ and 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.
At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
People and their relatives told us that they felt safe with the care and support that they and their relative received from support staff.
Risk assessments gave information on people’s individual risks associated with their health and care needs and guided support staff on how to minimise known risks to keep people safe.
People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.
Safe recruitment processes ensured that only those staff assessed as safe to work with vulnerable adults were employed.
People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff. Staffing allocations were based on people’s individually assessed support needs.
Accidents and incidents were recorded, reviewed and analysed to enable learning and improvements to prevent future re-occurrences.
Support staff told us and records confirmed that they were effectively supported through induction, regular training, supervision and annual appraisals.
People were appropriately supported with their nutrition and hydration needs to ensure they maintained a healthy and balanced diet. Where people had specialist dietary requirements these had been incorporated into their care plan and delivery.
People were routinely supported to access a variety of health and social care services or where there was an identified need or concern.
People 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 observed people had established positive and caring relationships with support staff. Support staff knew the people they worked with very well.
Care plans were person centred and comprehensive and enabled support staff to provide care and support to people that was responsive to their needs.
Complaints were recorded and appropriately responded to with details of the actions taken to resolve the complaint.
Clear management oversight systems in place allowed the registered manager and provider to monitor the quality of care and support people received. Where concerns were noted action plans in place ensured these were addressed and future learning was implemented.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
UK Care (Special Needs) Limited provides personal care to young people living at a supported living project in Bedfordshire. Each person has their own room and they share communal lounges, a kitchen and laundry facilities. At the time of our inspection there were four people using the service. Staff provide support to people that is either on a one to one basis or one staff is shared between two people. The project provides 24 hour staff support for people.
There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Relatives told us that trusted the staff that provided support to the young people in the supported living project.
Systems to monitor health and safety and quality were basic and did not address important issues such as medicines, support plan audits or monitoring of people’s healthcare needs.
Staff could explain how they would recognise and report abuse and they understood their responsibilities in keeping people safe.
Where any risks to people’s safety had been identified, the management had thought about and recorded ways to mitigate risks.
The service was following appropriate recruitment procedures to make sure that only suitable staff were employed at the supported living project.
Relatives told us and records confirmed that medicines were being managed appropriately and safely.
Staff were provided with training in the areas they needed in order to support people effectively.
Staff understood that it was not right to make choices for people when they could make choices for themselves and people’s ability around decision making, preferences and choices were recorded in their care plans and followed by staff.
People were receiving appropriate and safe support with eating and drinking and staff were aware of people’s dietary requirements and preferences.
People were involved as much as they wanted to be, and was possible, in the planning of their care and support. Support plans included the views of people using the service and their relatives. Relatives told us they were kept up to date about any changes by staff.
Relatives told us that the management and staff were quick to respond to any changes in people’s needs and care plans reflected how people were supported to receive care and treatment in accordance with their needs and preferences.
Relatives told us they had no complaints about the service but said they felt able to raise any concerns without worry.
Staff were aware of the organisation’s visions and values and put these values into practice in their day to day work.