SeeAbility - Kent Support Service

Updated 12 October 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.

We inspected SeeAbility Kent Support Service on 18 August 2017, and announced the inspection. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection to ensure that people we needed see were available at the time of inspection. One inspector carried out the inspection. This was the service’s first inspection since it had re-registered following a move of address on 12 August 2016.

Prior to the inspection, we gathered and reviewed information we held about the service. This included notifications from the service and information shared with us by the local authority. Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took the PIR in consideration.

During inspection, we spoke to three relatives, three care staff, three people living at the service, the registered manager and deputy manager. We looked in detail at care plans and examined records that related to the running of the service. We looked at six care plans and three staff files, staff training records and quality assurance documentation to support our findings.

Updated 12 October 2017

We inspected SeeAbility Kent Support Service on 18 August 2017. SeeAbility Kent Support Service provides care and support for up to six people in a residential setting and those in the local community with sight loss and multiple disabilities, including learning and physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection, six people were living at SeeAbility and one person was receiving support in the community.

This was SeeAbility Kent Support Service first inspection since it re-registered following a change of address on 12 August 2016.

The service had 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.

Staff had good knowledge of safeguarding adults and knew what actions to take if they suspected abuse was taking place. The provider had carried out appropriate employment checks to ensure that staff were safe to work with people at the home. There were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to keep people safe. The provider gave staff appropriate training to meet the needs of people. Staff received one to one supervision and appraisals from the registered manager.

People's needs had been assessed and detailed care plans developed. Care plans contained risk

assessments for daily living needs that were personalised for the people staff supported. People’s food preferences were taken into account and those that required support to eat were supported.

Medicines were stored securely and safely administered by staff who had received appropriate training to do so. People were being referred to health professionals when needed. People’s records showed that appropriate referrals were being made to GP’s, speech and language therapists, dentists and chiropodists.

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. Mental capacity assessments were being carried out and these were decision specific. Staff and the registered manager demonstrated a good knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Relatives spoke positively about staff. Staff communicated with people in ways that were understood when providing support. People’s private information was stored securely and discussions about people’s personal needs took place in a private area where it could not be overheard. People were free to choose how they lived their lives. People could choose what activities they took part in, that were reflecting their personal interests.

The provider had ensured that there were effective processes in place to fully investigate any complaints. Records showed that outcomes of the investigations were communicated to relevant people. People were empowered to manage any personal disputes they had. People and their relatives were encouraged to give feedback through resident meetings and yearly surveys. The provider had ensured that there were quality-monitoring systems in place to identify any shortfalls and the registered manager acted on these appropriately.

Relatives and staff spoke positively about the registered manager. The registered manager had an open door policy that was used by staff and people living at the service. The registered manager was approachable and supportive and took an active role in the day-to-day running of the service. Staff were able to discuss concerns with the registered manager at any time and had confidence appropriate action would be taken. The registered manager was open, transparent and responded positively to any concerns or suggestions made about the service. The registered manager was informing the CQC of all notifiable events detailed in the regulations.