6 February 2018
During a routine inspection
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 supports some people on a 24 hour basis. Others require help with developing skills in a transition towards more independent living. We did not cover this in our inspection as those people did not receive ‘personal care’. The people we visited could not communicate their views to us so we observed how staff supported and spoke with them.
There was a manager in post who had applied to the Commission for registration. 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.
Staff were recruited safely and trained to meet people’s individual needs. People were only supported by staff known to them and competent to meet their needs. There were enough staff assigned to provide support and ensure that people's needs were met.
Staff were aware of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act [2005] and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards [DoLS] .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 but we made a recommendation in regards to recording to ensure that it met the requirements of the MCA.
People had a support plan that provided staff with direction and guidance about how to meet individual needs and wishes. These care plans were regularly reviewed and any changes in people’s needs were communicated to staff.
Comprehensive assessments were carried out to identify any risks or potential risks to the person using the service and to the staff supporting them. This included any environmental risks in people’s homes, risks in the community and any risks in relation to the health and welfare.
Where staff were responsible for supporting medicine administration this was done safely. Staff ensured that people had enough to eat and drink and maintained a healthy diet.
People were supported to live a full and active life, offered choice. There were safeguards in place to support people to experience a range of activities.
There was a complaints process in place in a range of different formats. Relatives knew how to raise concerns and make complaints and told is that they had accessed this. We looked at records that demonstrated the complaints procedure had been followed.
There was a management structure within the service which provided clear lines of responsibility and accountability. There was a positive culture within the service and the management team provided leadership and led by example.
There were quality assurances systems in place to identified and address areas of improvement. Safeguarding matters had been investigated but CQC had not been notified of the occurrence. The manager and senior support worker were visible in the service.