We carried out a review of the data available to us about Step Up Support 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 Step Up Support, you can give feedback on this service.
Step Up Support service provides short breaks for adults with learning disabilities. The service is based in a four bedroomed house. The house can accommodate three individuals for overnight stays. Staff provide night time support on a sleep-in basis for people staying at the service. At the time of the inspection there were 16 people using the service.
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 spoken with did not express any concerns about the safety of their family member. Relatives made very positive comments about support that had been provided to their family member. Comments included, “Yes, it’s good” and “Absolutely fantastic. Very caring and sensitive to [family member] needs. They [staff] put themselves out for you.”
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.
Safeguarding procedures were robust and staff understood how to safeguard people.
Individual risk assessments were completed for people so that identifiable risks were managed effectively.
Systems were in place to make sure the manager and staff learned from events such as incidents, concerns and investigations.
Relatives spoken with didn’t express any concerns about the staffing levels at the service. The staff team planned and discussed the diary bookings and rota to ensure there were enough staff deployed to keep people safe and meet their needs.
There were robust recruitment procedures in place, so people were cared for by suitably qualified staff who been assessed as safe to work with people.
Medicines were managed safely at the service. The service had a robust system in place for receiving and returning people’s medication when they came for a short break.
People were supported by staff who knew them well. People’s care plans were person centred.
There was clear leadership in place, the registered manager supported people who came to stay at the service, so they got to know who she was. All the relatives spoken with made very positive comments about the staff team and the registered manager.
The service was clean and had a very welcoming homely atmosphere.
Staff had undertaken training which was regularly updated to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to support people effectively. Staff had received specialised training to meet the needs of people using the service. Staff told us they felt supported.
We saw that people’s care plans contained information about the type of decisions people were able to make and how best to support people to make these decisions.
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.
We saw people were offered a wide choice of food and their individual preferences were considered.
People were treated with dignity and respect. People could choose how they wished to spend their time when they came to stay at the service. People were supported to attend activities within the community.
People were supported to maintain their independence and some people engaged in activities of daily living such as, food shopping and cooking a meal.
Relatives spoken with felt confident they could raise any concerns with staff and the registered manager.
The registered manager had a good oversight of the service and were experienced in their role. Staff spoken with made very positive comments about the staff team and the registered manager.
There were planned and regular checks completed at the service to check the quality and safety of the service provided.
Rating at last inspection:
At our last inspection the service’s overall rating was good. The key question “Safe” was rated as requires improvement (report published 30 January 2017). At this inspection we found the service had made improvements to the assessment of people’s risks and achieved a rating of good for this key question.
Why we inspected:
This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Step Up Support service provides short breaks for adults with learning disabilities. The service is based in a four bedroom house. The house can accommodate three individuals for overnight stays. Staff provide night time support on a sleep in basis for people staying at the service. At the time of the inspection eleven people were using the service.
During the inspection the registered manager was the only staff member present. During the afternoon three people arrived to stay overnight at the service. We were not able to speak with some people using the service because we were unable to communicate verbally with them in a meaningful way. One person shared their experience of using the service.
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 registered manager told us they were in the process of reviewing people’s risk assessment so they were more detailed and effective. They were being supported by the local authority to complete this task.
We saw a recruitment and selection policy was in place, but it did not identify all the information as specified in Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 which must be available to demonstrate fit and proper persons have been employed. We spoke with the registered manager and they assured us this would be updated.
Staff had undertaken safeguarding training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities in keeping people safe from harm.
There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs safely and effectively.
Medicines were managed safely at the service.
Relatives that we contacted did not express any concerns regarding the cleanliness of the service. The service was clean and had a pleasant aroma.
Staff underwent an induction and shadowing period prior to commencing work, and had regular updates to their training to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to carry out their roles. Staff were well supported and received supervisions and appraisals regularly.
One person we spoke with was satisfied with the quality of support they had received and told us they would recommend the service.
Relatives that we contacted made very positive comments about the care their family member had received and about the staff working at the service. All the relatives contacted told us they would recommend the service.
Care plans were detailed and person centred. They contained personal preferences and instructed staff on encouraging people to maintain their independence. Care plans were reviewed and updated regularly.
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.
We observed the registered manager giving care and assistance to people throughout the inspection. They were respectful and treated people in a caring and supportive way.
The service promoted people’s wellbeing by providing daytime activities and opportunities to go out into the community.
The provider had a complaint’s process in place. Relatives told us that concerns were always taken seriously, explored thoroughly and responded to in good time.
Accidents and untoward occurrences were monitored by the registered manager to ensure any trends were identified.
There were regular checks completed by the registered manager to assess and improve the quality of the service provided.