Background to this inspection
Updated
6 August 2021
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 carried out 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 manager had started their application to become the registered manager of the service. This means the
provider was legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We announced the inspection on 1 July 2021. Inspection activity started on 1 July 2021 and ended on 9 July 2021. We visited the office location on 6 July 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authorities with whom the service works. On this occasion 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.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people at the supported living properties we visited. We spoke by telephone with one relative and another relative corresponded via email. During the inspection we spoke with the nominated individual who was also the operations manager, two senior team leaders, the administrator and two support workers. We asked eight staff members to answer some questions about the service via email which one staff completed.
We reviewed a range of records, including recruitment records. We reviewed some of the documentation remotely by asking the provider to send us key information prior to meeting with them.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
6 August 2021
Whitethorne Gardens is a supported living service providing personal care to people with learning disabilities and/or autism. The service supported six adults with their 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 told us they felt safe at the service. One person told us, “I am safe, they [staff] are brilliant.” Relatives also gave positive feedback. One relative told us how staff had gone above and beyond in supporting their family member during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service operated a robust recruitment process. Interviews were thorough, enabling the service to select applicants with the right skills and experience. People were encouraged to take part in the recruitment of staff.
Staff had received training in infection control and spoke confidently about how to support people safely. PPE was readily available. The provider had purchased a temperature monitoring sticker system as an additional measure to keep people and staff safe.
New staff completed an induction period which included shadowing experienced staff members. The management liaised with external healthcare professionals in the development of bespoke training to meet people’s needs.
The provider had systems in place to ensure people were protected from abuse and harm. Staff had completed safeguarding training and were aware of the whistleblowing protocols. Risks to people and the environment were identified and managed.
The provider had systems in place to monitor, assess and improve the quality and safety of the service being provided. Staff told us they felt supported by the management team. People, relatives and staff were encouraged to offer feedback.
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.
This service was able to demonstrate how they were underpinning the principles of right support, right care, right culture. The service ensured people received the right support to maximise people’s choice, control and independence. Care was person-centred and promoted people’s human rights. The service demonstrated a clear ethos with people at its centre, ensuring people using the service led confident, inclusive and empowered lives. There was an enthusiastic, positive and caring culture amongst staff at the service.
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 good (published 15 February 2019).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on our inspection programme.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.