Gideon Supported Housing Limited

Updated 8 August 2018

We carried out this comprehensive inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 inspection site visit took place on 15 June 2018 and it was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed the Provider Information Return (PIR) the registered manager had sent to us. This is information we require providers to send us at least annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the other information such as notifications we held about the service and the provider. We also checked the information that we held about the service, which included notifications. A notification is information about important events the provider is required to send to us by law. We also reviewed the monitoring report we received from the local authority.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, service manager and two support workers. We were unable to speak to people because they were non-verbal. We spent time observing how people were supported. We looked at care records and medicine administration records for three people using the service. We reviewed three staff files including recruitment, training and supervision records. We also checked records relating to the management of the service including quality audits and health and safety management. After the inspection we spoke with two relatives.

Updated 8 August 2018

This announced inspection took place on 15 June 2018. Gideon Supported Living provides care and support to people living in two ‘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 used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. 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. At the time of our inspection there were five people using the service.

At our last inspection in September 2017 the overall rating of the service was requires improvement. Well-led was rated inadequate due to the number of concerns we found. We found four breaches of regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) 2014. These related to management of medicines, person centred care planning, consent to care provided and good governance. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for ‘Gideon Supported Living Home’ on our website at www.cqc.org.uk. The provider sent us an action plan on how they would meet these regulations. At this inspection we found the provider had made the required improvement and now complied with our regulations. We have rated the service overall as Good. However, the rating for well-led is requires improvement. This is because of the previous rating in this area. We needed to be sure they consistently improved and well managed before we can change the rating of well-led to Good.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Risks were assessed and management plans developed to reduce potential harm to people. People’s medicines were managed in a safe way. There were sufficient numbers of staff to support people. Staff knew actions to take if they suspected abuse. The registered manager understood their responsibilities to protect people from abuse. Recruitment practices were thorough. Incidents and accidents were recorded and reviewed. Staff followed infection control procedures.

Staff and the registered manager understood their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. 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 support this practice. People consented to their care before they were delivered.

People’s care needs were assessed, planned and delivered in a way that met their individual needs. Care plans were detailed and provided guidance to staff. They were up to date and reflected people’s present needs and circumstances. People and their relatives were involved in planning their care and support. People received the supported they needed to meet their nutritional needs. Staff supported people to access healthcare services they needed to maintain good health. The service liaised with other services to ensure people received coordinated care. Staff were supported well through regular training, supervision and appraisal. Staff told us they felt supported in their roles.

Staff supported people with their emotional needs and treated people with dignity and respect. People were comfortable with staff and there was positive interaction between them. Confidential matters were discussed in private and records kept secured. People were supported to participate in the community and to do activities they enjoy. People were supported to maintain relationships which mattered to them. Staff understood the importance of promoting equality and diversity.

Relatives told us they knew how to complain if they were unhappy with the service. There was a complaints procedure in place and the registered manager addressed concerns in line with this procedure.

The registered manager complied with the requirements of their CQC registration. They sent us notifications and displayed their inspection rating as required. Regular checks and audits were conducted to assess and monitor the quality of service. The registered manager took actions to improve the service. Relatives told us that their feedbacks were acted on to improve the service. Staff felt supported and motivated to work at the service. Staff knew who to speak to if they needed advice and direction. The service worked in partnership with other organisations to improve the service.