Studio 24

Updated 11 March 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

This inspection was undertaken by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is both a domiciliary care agency and supported living service. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It also provides care to people living in a 'supported living' setting, so 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.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the

quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service two days' notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the registered manager and staff would be in the office to support the inspection. We also gave time for the registered manager to send us inspection information to limit the time spent at the office. Inspection activity started on 05 January 2023 and ended on 16 January 2023. We visited the location’s office on 05 January 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had about the service since they registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We visited the office and spoke with the registered manager and the providers head of care. After our visit to the office, we also spoke with 4 care staff. We spoke with one person using the service and 11 relatives by telephone to seek their views about the quality and safety of the care and support they received. We reviewed records, including 4 care plans and care records, 3 staff recruitment and training records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality monitoring systems and audits.

Updated 11 March 2023

About the service

Studio 24 is a domiciliary care service that provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. The provider also has supported living environments which also offer respite services. The service provides support to a wide section of the community, people with a physical disability, learning disability or autism, mental health needs and or sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection, there were 45 people using the service. 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.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support

People were not always supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives as staff did not support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service did not support this practice and follow the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA). Medicines were not managed and administered safely.

Right Care

People received care that was personalised from staff who knew them well. However, risks to people were not always assessed and documented appropriately to ensure their safety. There were enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe. Safe recruitment processes were followed. People’s privacy was respected and they were treated with dignity and respect. People were supported where required to access a range of health and social care services when they needed them.

Right Culture

Systems and processes in place for monitoring the quality and safety of the service were not robust or effective in identifying issues and concerns found at this inspection and for helping to drive service improvements. Staff received training and support relevant to their needs and the needs of the people they supported. The registered manager understood the responsibilities of their role including the duty of candour.

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 October 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection to assess if the provider was complying with our regulations. We conducted a comprehensive inspection which looked at all the key questions.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to the need for consent, safe care and treatment and good governance. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.