Background to this inspection
Updated
15 August 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This announced inspection occurred on 28 and 29 June and 10 July 2017.The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and a supported living service to people and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. We completed the inspection on 10 July 2017 because the registered manager had been unavailable on the first two days.
The inspection team was made up of one adult social care 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.
Before the inspection we looked at the information we held about this service. This included the provider information return (PIR) and notifications we had received from the provider since the last inspection. We also contacted the local authority to gain their feedback about the service.
During the inspection we talking to people using the service and with their relatives. We spent time with the registered manager and with two locality managers. We met with a member of staff and one person who they were supporting in the office. We also visited two out of three supported living locations and observed the care that people received in the communal areas of the services. We undertook a brief Short Observational Framework Inspection (SOFI). (Observation of care and support of people who could not tell us their views). We spoke to all the people using this service at the two supported living locations we visited. We spoke with one relative visiting the service and with two relatives by phone. We interviewed four staff. We reviewed four people's care records during the inspection.
Updated
15 August 2017
The inspection took place on 28, 29 June and 10 July 2017, and was announced to make sure senior staff could be present.
There was a registered manager in place. 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.
This was the first inspection of this service since the provider moved location, following the last inspection.
The service supports people in their own homes and in the community. There are three supported living services in Immingham. Two of the locations are purpose built to meet people’s needs. The aim of the service is to support people to live the life they choose.
The service is registered to support younger adults, people with a learning disability, physical disability and people living with autism.
Staff understood their responsibility to safeguarding people from harm and abuse. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were identified and understood by staff. People were supported to live their lives using a positive approach to risk, which helped them to live a life that was fulfilling.
Sufficient staff were provided, with the right skills and knowledge to support people. Staff undertook training to ensure they had the skills needed to support people.
Recruitment processes were robust, which helped to protect people from staff who may not be suitable to work in the care industry.
People's nutritional needs were monitored and reviewed. Special diets were catered for, to make sure people's nutritional needs were met.
People in two of the supported living service's had their new home environments created to suit their personal needs. They and their family were consulted about the building of their new homes. People and their family or advocates liaised with the landlord about ensuring the facilities provided were suitable to meet their needs.
People’s rights were protected and staff advised and supported people to make informed decisions for themselves. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor how registered persons apply the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and to report on what we find. These safeguards protect people when they are not able to make decisions for themselves and it is necessary to deprive them of their liberty in order to protect their rights. The registered manager and staff were aware of their responsibilities in regard to this.
Staff treated people with kindness, care, dignity and respect. People’s confidential information was held securely to maintain their privacy.
People and their advocates were consulted about the help and support they wanted to receive. People were encouraged to set personal goals to achieve. Staff supported people to attend college, undertake social events and maintain their hobbies.
There was a complaints procedure in place that was provided in a format that was suitable for people who used the service. Issues raised were dealt with appropriately.
People were consulted with during the building of their new homes and liaised with their landlord. People were supported by the management team during the moving process.
Audits were in place to monitor the quality of service provided. People and their relatives were asked for their views, and these were acted upon. Staff meetings were held and staff were encouraged to raise their views to help maintain or improve the service.