SLC Paragon (Midlands)

Updated 7 May 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ settings, so that 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.

The service had a manager, but they were not yet registered with the Care Quality Commission for this service. They were registered for other services the Care Quality Commission regulate. A registered manager means they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hour’s notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with two staff members, the compliance manager and the manager. The compliance manager is similar to a deputy manager and they assist the manager to monitor services and staff. The compliance manager oversees the daily support provided to people by this service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care and medication records. We looked at two staff recruitment files and training information for three staff. We also looked at records that related to the management and quality assurance of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at quality assurance records and staff meeting minutes.

Updated 7 May 2020

About the service

SLC Paragon is registered to provide personal care and support to people with a learning disability who live independently in the community. On the day of our inspection there were three people receiving support. 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.

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

People were supported safely by staff who knew how to escalate concerns and were aware of potential risks when providing support to people. People received their medicines when they needed them, and where possible people were encouraged to take responsibility and administer their own medicines. Staff wore gloves and aprons to ensure they protected people from cross infection. Contingency plans were being developed in response to the spread of the coronavirus. Systems were in place to review any incident and accidents to see if there were any lessons to learn from these.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. 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.

Staff had received the training they needed for their role and felt supported. People were supported where possible to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People felt confident to raise any concerns they had about the support they received. People received support that met their needs and preferences.

People and relatives made positive comments about the staff that supported them describing them as caring, friendly and approachable. Systems were in place to monitor the service provided and to gain feedback from people and their relatives.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 1 November 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk