Updated 8 May 2019
The inspection:
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.
Inspection team:
The inspection was completed by one adult social care inspector.
Service and service type:
• Primary Access Limited provides care and support to younger people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder and or physical disabilities living in 'supported living' settings. This is so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. At the time of the inspection the service was providing support to nine people.
• The service provides support to seven people who live together as tenants in one of two houses owned by the service. Each person has their own room and shared communal areas such as kitchen, living room and dining room. The service also supported two people living in their own homes.
• The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission who was also the owner. This means that they are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. They are referred to as the “registered manager” throughout the report.
Notice of inspection:
• We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is a small service and the registered manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be available to talk with us.
What we did before, during and following the inspection;
• Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service.
• We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
• We received feedback from two health and social care professionals who worked with the service
During the inspection:
• Inspection site visit activity started on 9 April 2019. We visited the office location to speak with the registered manager and management staff.
• We also visited both properties where people received care and support.
• We reviewed staff recruitment, training and supervision records for four staff.
• We looked at records of accidents, incidents, complaints and compliments.
• We reviewed the care records and risk assessments for four people.
• We reviewed audits, quality assurance reports and surveys.
• We spoke with the registered manager, managing director, manager and operations manager and three members of care staff. People receiving care and support were not able to speak with us due to their communication needs.
• On the 10 April 2019 we telephoned and spoke with the relatives of three people receiving care and support and a further two members of care staff.
• After the inspection we asked the registered manager to send us further documents which we reviewed. These were received within the agreed timescales.