Background to this inspection
Updated
2 June 2022
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of an inspector, an inspection manager 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.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in eight ‘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.
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. The care manager had submitted an application to register with us.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the care manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 05 May 2022 and ended on 10 May 2022. We visited the location’s office on 05 May 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider had sent us within their annual Provider Information Return. 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 also reviewed the information we held, such as statutory notifications, as well as any information shared with us by the local authority. We also used the information we had obtained when we had completed a direct monitoring approach call with the care manager in October 2021. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people and four people's relatives via the telephone to gather their experiences of the care and support provided. We spoke with the care manager, the deputy care manager, a team leader, two senior support workers, a support worker and the human resources manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people's care and medication records, staff training information, three staff recruitment files, and records of the checks the management team and the provider completed to assure themselves people received a safe, good quality service.
Updated
2 June 2022
About the service
Community Living and Support Services Limited is domiciliary care agency which is registered to provide personal care and support to people in their own homes including supported living settings. The service can be provided to adults with learning disabilities, dementia, mental health conditions, physical disabilities and sensory impairments.
At the time of our inspection the service was supporting 43 people across eight supported living settings. Five of those people were in receipt of personal care. 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People, their relatives and staff told us the service was safe. Risks had been assessed and detailed guidance helped staff to provide safe care. Staff and the management team understood their responsibilities to keep people safe. The management of people’s medicines continued to be safe and people received their medicines when they needed them.
Staff were recruited safely, and people told us staff followed safe infection control practice in their homes. The providers systems reduced the risk of infections spreading. People were supported to eat and drink in line with their wishes if this was part of their planned care. Staff worked in partnership with health and social care professionals to support people to achieve positive outcomes.
People received effective care from trained and skilled staff who knew them well. Staff completed an induction when they started work at the service followed by an ongoing training programme.
People were supported 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.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
Based on our review of the safe, effective and well-led key questions the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right support: People had choice and control over their lives and were supported to live their lives as independently as possible. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and access specialist support to remain healthy and well.
Right care: People received personalised care and support from staff they knew and trusted. People’s human rights were promoted, and people spoke positively about the care and support they received. They felt listened to and were fully involved in planning and reviewing their care.
Right culture: Feedback without exception confirmed a positive and inclusive culture was embedded, managers led by example. Staff felt supported by their managers and understood the provider's vision and values. The whole staff team demonstrated commitment to continually learning and improving the service to benefit people. A range of effective audits and checks took place to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 23 July 2019) and there was a breach of the regulations. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.