23 & 28 July 2015
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place on the 23 and 28 July 2015 and was unannounced.
Social Care Solutions LTD (Bedford) provides an outreach and supported living service, providing care and support to adults and children (not under 4 years of age) who may have a range of needs These include learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders, physical disabilities, mental health and sensory impairments. At the time of this inspection 46 people were using the service, with some living in shared accommodation.
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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
In November 2014, a new provider - Lifeways Community Care Limited, acquired the Care Solutions Group, which included this service.
People felt safe and staff had been trained to recognise signs of potential abuse.
Processes were in place to manage identifiable risks within the service and ensure people did not have their freedom unnecessarily restricted.
There were sufficient numbers of staff who had the right skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs.
The provider carried out robust recruitment checks on new staff to make sure they were suitable to work at the service.
Systems were in place to ensure people’s medicines were managed in a safe way; and that they got their medication when they needed it. People were encouraged to manage their own medication on a risk assessed basis.
Staff had received training to carry out their roles and meet people’s needs.
We found that the service worked to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 key principles. These state that a person's capacity should always be assumed, and assessments of capacity must be undertaken where it is believed that a person cannot make decisions about their care and support.
People had enough to eat and drink. Staff supported people to do their own food shopping and cooking as far as possible.
The service had developed positive working relationships with external healthcare professionals, to ensure effective arrangements were in place to meet people’s healthcare needs.
Staff were motivated and provided care and support in a caring and meaningful way. They treated people with kindness and compassion, and respected their privacy and dignity at all times.
We saw that people were given regular opportunities to express their views on the service they received. They were actively involved in influencing how the organisation works, as well as making decisions about their individual care and support needs.
People’s social needs were provided for and they were given regular opportunities to participate in meaningful activities in their own homes or within the local community.
People were encouraged to be as independent as possible.
A complaints procedure had been developed to let people know how to raise concerns about the service if they needed to.
Systems were also in place to monitor the quality of the service provided and to drive continuous improvement.