Kelso Care Consortium Limited Supported Living Services

The service provides support for people with learning disabilities or autism. At the time of the inspection there were five people using the service who received a regulated activity, such as personal care.

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

Relatives felt that their loved ones were safe. Staff knew how to escalate issues and concerns and were aware of potential risks when providing support. People received their medicines appropriately, as required. Staff used correct equipment, such as gloves and aprons when assisting people. Accidents and incidents were managed appropriately.

Staff received an effective induction and an appraisal. Staff had received training and felt able to support people confidently. People felt that staff supported their individual needs and requirements. People received food and drinks as required and attended any medical appointments. People were supported in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.

Staff were kind and caring towards people. People were given choices and were able to make their own decisions as far as possible. Staff supported people to be independent and ensured that people’s privacy and dignity was maintained.

Relatives felt involved in the development of care plans. Care plans provided staff with information about people’s needs and preferences and how they would like these to be met. A complaints procedure was in place and relatives knew how to raise concerns and felt confident these would be addressed.

Relatives and staff thought the service was managed well. The Registered Manager was described positively in the way they managed the service. Systems were in place to monitor the delivery of the service.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance.

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

This service provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ accommodation, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate agreements; this inspection looked at their personal care and support arrangements.

There were five people receiving the regulated activity of personal care at the service when we inspected and 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People told us the care they received was safe and they had no concerns about their welfare. Where needed people were supported with care staff at night if needed. People told us they felt safe when the care staff were with them in or out of their home.

Care staff knew the action to take if a person was at risk of potential abuse to ensure they were protected from further risk. The registered manager was confident in how to report incidents to the local authority and the steps they would take to address any concerns. People knew their individual risks and when and where they needed the care staff to monitor their safe care and support. There were enough care staff when people needed them in their home at the arranged times. Staff provided people with their medicines and recorded when they had received them.

People were confident that care staff understood their needs and were knowledgeable about their support needs. Care staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and received regular training and supervision that supported them to provide care to people.

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. People who could not make decisions for themselves were supported to make a decision in their best interest. People received support to plan, make and prepare their meals. Care staff knew where people required additional support with additional dietary requirements. Healthcare appointments were arranged for people if needed and care staff had helped to arrange transport or went with them.

People told us they liked the care staff and were encouraged to be involved their care, support and life choices. People’s dignity and privacy was respected and promoted by care staff and supported people to live as independently. The registered manager was accessible and provided examples of how they advised and supported people them when they had queries or concerns.

People and care staff we spoke with told us the management team were available to talk with and would listen and act of any feedback provided on the service. The management team had kept their knowledge current with support from the provider and external professionals. The management regularly checked on the quality of the care that people received. The registered manager had developed a clear plan of improvements and was working towards achieving these throughout the year.