Blisworth Home

Updated 14 January 2020

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 is registered as a domiciliary care and supported living agency. It provides personal care to people living in one ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

The service had a manager registered with the CQC. 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.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period of notice for the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 23 December 2019 and ended on 31 December 2019. We visited the office location on 23 December 2019 and made telephone calls to staff and relatives on 24 December 2019 and 31 December 2019.

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 authority, professionals who work with the service and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with two members of staff including the registered manager and a care worker.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment, training and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked further at quality assurance records and recruitment processes.

Updated 14 January 2020

About the service

Exceed Support Services Ltd is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as a domiciliary care and supported living service which provides personal care and support to people living in the community.

At the time of inspection two people were receiving personal care and support in a four-bedroomed house for supported living. Exceed Support Services Ltd also provided the opportunity of a respite service at this location. Staff were available to support people 24 hours a day, which included sleep in arrangements overnight.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The staff recruitment procedures were not always robust. The service had carried out pre-employment checks, however did not always follow this up with appropriate actions to ensure risk was properly assessed.

People’s care needs had been identified and risk assessed. Care plans were person-centred and considered people’s preferences, likes, dislikes and interests.

People told us they felt happy with staff. Staff knew how to support people they cared for well.

Staff knew how to identify and report any signs of abuse or concerns appropriately.

People received their medicines safely by competently trained staff and staff knew how to protect people from the risk of infection.

The registered manager was approachable and understood the needs of people. Staff were able to express views, concerns and ideas and felt listened to.

People were supported by staff that maintained and respected their privacy and dignity.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

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.

People were able to access activities important to them to meet their social and cultural needs. Staff supported people to maintain relationships and communicated well with relatives.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 13 December 2017, however no one used the service until April 2019. This is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection.

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.