Background to this inspection
Updated
11 November 2015
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.
This inspection took place on the 14 October 2015 and was unannounced.
The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Prior to our inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included any statutory notification that had been sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) which they completed and sent back to us. 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 spoke with two people who used the service. We spoke with two relatives, three staff and the acting manager.
We reviewed three care and support plans, medication administration records, three recruitment files, staffing rotas and records relating to the quality and safety monitoring of the service.
Updated
11 November 2015
This inspection took place on the 14 October 2015 and was unannounced.
FitzRoy Supported living service provides varying amounts of care support for people with a learning disability across four locations in Suffolk within a supported living environment. Depending on their needs this support includes support with personal care, shopping, domestic activities and community or social activities. On the day of our visit there were 16 people using the domiciliary service across all four supported living locations.
There was a registered manager in post at the time of the inspection who had just returned from maternity leave. During their absence the provider appointed an acting manager to manage the day to day service. 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 in their own home. Staff understood the need to protect people from harm and what steps they would take if they suspected abuse. The provider had a whistle blowing policy and procedures to guide staff in how to report and report concerns appropriately.
People’s likelihood of harm was reduced because risks to people’ health, welfare and safety had been assessed and risk assessments produced to guide staff in how to mitigate these risks and keep people safe from harm.
The provider’s recruitment procedures demonstrated that they operated a safe and effective recruitment system.
Staffing levels had been assessed and were flexible according to people’s individual assessed needs. However, there was a high use of agency staff due to staff vacancies and staff absences.
Not everyone’s care and support plans clearly identified the assessment of people’s capacity to manage their finances and plans in place to support them which protected their human rights.
People received the support they needed to access healthcare professionals and specialist advice was sought when required which supported people to maintain their health and wellbeing.
People were at ease and comfortable when staff were present. Staff supported people in a kind, caring and dignified way. People’s privacy and dignity was maintained in supporting people with their personal care. People were actively involved in planning their own care. This included what activities they chose to be involved in. Support plans contained specific guidance for staff in how best to deliver care in a respectful and dignified manner.
People were supported to access the community and take part in activities according to their individual assessed needs and choices.
Staff understood their roles and were supported by the management team through regular supervision, appraisals and meetings.
The provider carried out regular quality and safety monitoring of the service. Where shortfalls had been identified action plans had been produced which evidenced planning towards continuous improvement of the service.