Archived: Channel Homes (UK) Ltd

Updated 22 February 2017

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.

We undertook an announced focused inspection of Channel Homes (UK) Limited on 24 January 2017. As people and staff were usually out during the day we gave the provider short notice of our inspection to ensure that someone would be available to meet with us. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

This inspection was carried out to check that improvements to meet legal requirements planned by the provider after our 13 & 14 April 2016 inspection had been made. We inspected the service against one of the five questions we ask about services: is the service Well Led? This is because the service was previously not meeting a legal requirement to assess and monitor service quality. This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

The provider had not completed a new Provider Information Return (PIR), because we carried out this inspection before the required return date, therefore the registered manager had not yet been requested to complete a new form. The PIR 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.

Before the inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service, we looked at previous inspection reports and any notifications received by the Care Quality Commission. A notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

We spent time speaking with the one person in receipt of the regulated activity, personal care. We also spoke with registered manager and the managing director of the organisation and three support staff.

We looked at assessment and monitoring information, operational documentation such as policies and procedures, staff meeting minutes, and processes for managing complaints, accidents/incidents and notifications. We checked the person’s care plan, associated risk assessments, and records of medicine administration and guidance to ensure these were being kept updated.

Updated 22 February 2017

Channel Homes (UK) Limited is a supported living service in a cluster arrangement that supports up to 18 people with learning disabilities some of whom also have other needs. People have the tenancy of their own flat.

At inspection the registered manager confirmed that of the 18 people in receipt of the service there was only one person in receipt of minimal ‘personal care’ support; our inspection therefore was only able to reflect the service this person received and how their needs were being met.

Rating at last inspection

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good overall with a Requires Improvement in the ‘Well Led’ domain'.

Why we inspected

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 13 & 14 April 2016; this was to ensure that someone in authority would be present in the office to provide us with access to important documentation. A breach of legal requirements was found. After the comprehensive inspection, the provider wrote to us to say what they would do to meet legal requirements in relation to the breach of Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act Regulated Activities Regulations 2014, Good Governance. We undertook this focused inspection to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements. This report

only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last

comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Channel Homes (UK) Limited on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

At this inspection we found the service remained Good overall and is now rated Good in the Well Led domain.

Why the service is rated Good

People told us they were very happy with their support and that the registered manager and staff involved them in discussions about their support needs. They appreciated the flexibility of the support and how they could change how and when their support hours were sometimes delivered.

The service had improved since the last inspection. Audits to check on a range of areas regarding the person’s support had been implemented; this provided assurance to the registered manager and the provider that the person was being supported appropriately. The registered manager continued to take responsibility for updating care and risk information to reflect any changes in people’s level of independence or needs. This was always discussed with the person. The registered manager undertook unannounced ‘pop ins’ to see people as part of the checks she made, and by covering some shifts was available to people in a less formal capacity if they wanted to talk about the service or raise concerns.

Staff said there was a very good sense of team and staff were supportive of each other. The provider and registered manager were a visible presence and staff said they found them approachable and easy to talk with. Staff said communication was good and they felt listened to and empowered to make suggestions and ideas to improve the service.

Staff were given opportunities to meet together and discuss issues that arose. They were confident in dealing with incidents and or accidents and knew how to keep people safe from harm. Staff knew their responsibilities to record and report incidents, accidents or issues that arose to the registered manager.

Staff were provided with a range of policies and procedures relevant to inform their work and the provider and registered manager updated these as changes in best practice or legislation occurred, and updated information was relayed to staff who were asked to read amended or updated policy or guidance and sign when they had. For example, the registered manager and staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how this applied to people living in supported living services.

The provider and registered manager had good links with supported living networks and care professionals in the local area; they participated in conferences and workshops driving improvement in the delivery and expansion of supported living.

People told us that they were asked to comment about the service they received through regular checks made with them by the registered manager who also asked the person to complete a survey from time to time. Their feedback was analysed and any identified issues were addressed to the person’s satisfaction.

The registered manager understood their responsibilities to inform the Care Quality Commission of significant events where required.