We carried out a review of the data available to us about Carlisle Mencap 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 Carlisle Mencap Limited, you can give feedback on this service.
Carlisle Mencap Limited provides personal care to people who live in their own homes. 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. This included the service providing care and support to people living in four ‘supported living’ settings so that people can live as independently as possible. At the time of this inspection, the service provided personal care to 26 people living with a learning disability. The service is registered to provide support to both adults and children.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Systems were in place to protect people from the risk of abuse and staff understood their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and whistle blowing procedures. Relatives confirmed they thought people were safe and well cared for. There were enough staff deployed to meet the needs of people and safe recruitment procedures were in place. Some people were involved in the recruitment process of new staff.
Staff received training appropriate to the needs of people and were well supported in their job roles. Staff received supervision and appraisals in line with the providers policy and staff told us they enjoyed their work.
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.
The service ensured people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People were treated with dignity and respect. Staff were knowledgeable in the actions to take to maintain the privacy and dignity of people and described the actions they took to uphold this especially during personal care support.
Opportunities were available for people to be involved in a wide range of meaningful activities that were appropriate to them. People were encouraged to maintain contact and relationships with people important to them.
A range of systems were in place to monitor the quality and management of the service. Relatives told us they thought the service was well led and were responsive to people’s needs. Care plans contained relevant person-centred information which provided detail to guide staff in the actions to take when delivering care and support.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at the last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 24 March 2017)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on our inspection programme.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
Carlisle Mencap Limited is a charitable organisation registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide lifelong person centred support for people with learning disabilities and their families in North Cumbria. Its offices are located on Kingmoor Business Park to the North of the city of Carlisle. The agency provides services that are based in a person's own home and in supported living services in the community. The supported living service is provided to people in order to promote and maintain their independence.
A registered manager was 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.
The families of people who used the service told us they felt safe and secure in the way their relatives were supported by the staff. They said staff were kind and caring and understood the needs of their relatives.
Appropriate numbers of staff were available to provide a flexible service and to ensure people received the support at a time when they needed it. Effective recruitment processes were in place to ensure that staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people, some of whom had very complex needs.
Staff had completed adult safeguarding training. They were knowledgeable about adult abuse and clear about the arrangements for reporting any concerns they may have. They were aware of the agency's whistle blowing policy and said they would not hesitate to use it.
Staff received regular training for their role. Staff were up-to-date with their supervision and annual appraisal.
People were supported with their health care needs and, where required, in taking their prescribed medicines. Staff promoted healthy eating for those using the supported living service. People gave consent to the care they received. Staff had developed close relationships with the people they supported and treated people with dignity and respect.
The registered manager understood her responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the rights of people who needed support to make decisions were protected.
Care and support plans were in place and were regularly reviewed and updated. The care plans contained sufficient information to enable to the staff to provide the most appropriate level of care and support.
The service had a complaints procedure in place that was produced in a format suitable for people to understand. People were aware how to raise any complaints or concerns they had.
There were suitable arrangements in place to ensure the effective management of the service. People knew how to contact a senior person in the agency if they needed. The registered manager was knowledgeable about her responsibilities and committed to providing a high quality service. She set high standards for staff to work to and monitored the service to check these were met.