Background to this inspection
Updated
3 April 2020
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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in 4 ‘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 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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
The inspection was completed on 26 February 2020.
What we did before the 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.
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. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager and three staff members and reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care and medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed. We spoke with three people who used the service during the inspection, and two relatives to gain feedback about the service they received.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
3 April 2020
About the service
Learning Together Limited is a supported living service that provides personal care and support for up to seven people. The service supported seven people at the time of the inspection.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
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.
The service was developed across four individual supported living homes. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate that the people living in these properties received care and support. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their relatives were positive about the caring nature and approach of staff. People told us they were supported by staff who were kind and compassionate. People and their relatives told us they were treated with dignity and respect. They told us they felt safe when staff visited and were confident that any concerns would be dealt with promptly. There were sufficient numbers of staff working in the service. This ensured people received their care and support as required.
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.
Staff told us they had received appropriate training which supported them to carry out their role. Staff training records confirmed this. People’s care had been designed in partnership with them, their families and other health professionals involved in their care. Staff told us they could seek advice from the registered manager and senior carers. The registered manager and staff were passionate about the care they delivered and were driven to improve the service. They communicated and engaged with others such as family members to improve the lives for people who used the service.
The registered manager acted on concerns to ensure people received care which was safe and responsive to their needs. Staff were trained in safeguarding people and protecting them from harm. Any concerns or accidents were reported and acted on.
The registered manager monitored the delivery of care through staff observations and feedback from people. Effective quality assurance systems had been established to monitor the quality of the service being delivered.
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 30 August 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.