10 January 2018
During a routine inspection
1A, Overhill Road is a supported living service that provides personal care and support for up to six adults living with mild to moderate learning disability needs. Supported living is where people live independently in specifically designed or independent accommodation but need some help or support to do so. There were six people living at the service when we inspected it. The accommodation was provided by another organisation and as 1A Overhill Road is not registered for accommodation with the CQC, the premises and related aspects were not inspected.
The service had a registered manager. 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.
People told us they felt safe. Staff were trained in adult safeguarding procedures and knew what to do if they considered people were at risk of harm or if they needed to report any suspected abuse.
There were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs and there were always additional staff able to cover in the event of staff absence. Robust employment checks were in place to help to ensure new staff were appropriate to be working with and supporting people.
The risks to people's safety and wellbeing were assessed and regularly reviewed. People were supported to manage their own safety and remain as independent as they could be. The provider had processes in place for the recording and investigation of incidents and accidents.
People were supported with the management of their medicines and there were regular audits by the management team. People were supported by staff who were sufficiently well trained, supervised and appraised. The service liaised with other services to share ideas and good practice.
People's healthcare needs were met and staff supported them to attend medical appointments.
People lived in a comfortable environment which was clean and free of hazards. They were able to personalise their bedrooms as they wished.
Staff had undertaken training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and were aware of their responsibilities in relation to people who might be deprived of their liberty. They ensured people were given choices and the opportunity to make decisions.
Throughout the inspection, we observed staff caring for people in a way that took into account their diversity, values and human rights. People were supported to make decisions about their activities in the home and in the community.
Information about how to make a complaint was available to people and their families, and they felt confident that any complaint would be addressed by the management.
Work was being progressed to ensure people had a choice about what happened to them in the event of their death and that staff had the information they needed to make sure people’s final wishes would be respected.
There was a clear management structure at the service, and people and staff told us that the registered manager and deputy manager were supportive and approachable. There was a transparent and open culture within the service and people and staff were supported to raise concerns and make suggestions about where improvements could be made.
The provider had effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and where issues were identified, they were addressed promptly.