During an assessment under our new approach
Choice Support Three C's provides care and support to young people and adults who are living with a learning disability and have mental health needs. At the time of this inspection, 54 people were supported in supported living accommodations in five London boroughs, namely Hackney, Lewisham, Greenwich, Merton and Newham.
Choice Support merged with Three C’s support in April 2024. Prior to this, under the provider of Three C’s the service was rated Good in February 2019. This assessment was undertaken between 9 September and 23 September 2025. The rating of the service is now Inadequate.
We undertook this assessment following concerns we received about the quality of the care provided and failure to safeguard people. we have assessed the service in line with Right support, right care, right culture guidance We identified significant shortfalls across the service and breaches of 5 regulations in relation to providing people with person centred care, safeguarding, staffing, dignity and respect and good governance. In instances where CQC has begun a process of regulatory action, we may publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded, if the action has been taken forward.
Although organisational policies and systems for quality assurance were in place governance systems were ineffective, resulting in extremely poor oversight of people’s care and a failure to safeguard them from ongoing abuse. Leadership and management were poor and inconsistent. Staff lacked training and did not receive an adequate induction or support through regular supervision. Staff felt vulnerable at times due insufficient staffing levels and felt unsupported by the provider and wider management team. This had contributed tolow staff morale. Risk assessments did not reflect the care people needed
There was lack of meaningful activity available to people to engage with. Restrictions were imposed on people which were not always based on people’s individual needs but due to insufficient staffing levels.
We were told by staff, relatives and partner agencies that there were not enough staff to meet people’s needs, preferences and manage risk.
The environment and cleanliness of properties varied but some exposed people to significant risks.
Record keeping needed to be improved. Partnership working needed to be improved to ensure people’s support was joined up and that the service was working together effectively with other organisations.
Given the multiple serious and ongoing issues the provider was taking steps to drive improvement. This included a voluntary suspension within one London Borough. Although a comprehensive and detailed improvement plan had been initiated, the actions that directly impacted on the quality and safety of people’s support had not yet been implemented.
Our overall findings, as reflected throughout this inspection report, highlight that the culture of the service needed to be addressed to ensure this influenced better experiences for people. Stable and consistent management was needed to make and sustain the improvements required.
This service is being placed in special measures. The purpose of special measures is to ensure that services providing inadequate care make significant improvements. Special measures provide a framework within which we use our enforcement powers in response to inadequate care and provide a timeframe within which providers must improve the quality of the care they provide.