We carried out a review of the data available to us about The Porthouse on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about The Porthouse, you can give feedback on this service.
The Porthouse is a supported living service providing 24-hour personal care and support for up to five young adults with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of our inspection two people were using the service.
The service had 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 received 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
People were happy living at The Porthouse. Staff treated people with kindness and respect and the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. Relatives told us their communication with staff was good and they felt involved in their family members care. Staff had received the training and had the support they needed to understand and meet people’s needs.
Staff helped people work towards their goals and encouraged people to engage in the activities they wanted to do. They supported people to learn new skills and be as independent as they were able to be. Staff helped people keep in contact with their family and friends.
Staff knew how to keep people safe and used different ways to communicate with people to find out how they were feeling and the choices they wanted to make. Care records helped staff know what was important to people and how they wanted to be supported. Information was available for people in a way they could understand.
Managers and staff made sure people were asked their views about how the service was run and what staff could do to make things better. 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.
Staff supported people to attend health care appointments and made sure heath care professionals knew how to support people during treatment. Staff made sure people received their medicine in a safe way.
Managers and staff knew how to record and report concerns, this included any safeguarding concerns. When an incident or accident happened, the reason was investigated and changes were made to make things better for people.
The provider had a range of audits in place to make sure people were safe and drive improvement. When things had gone wrong lessons were learned and this was shared with staff.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
We did not give the service a rating at our last inspection (05 June 2019). This was because there was insufficient evidence available to make a judgement and award a rating.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.
This service provides care and support to people living in a 'supported living' setting, so that they can live in their own home 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. At the time of our inspection visit the service was supporting one person.
People’s experience of using this service:
The person and their relative were satisfied with the quality of care provided by the service. There were systems in place to make sure there was always enough staff working at the service to help keep the person safe and meet their needs. The person was protected from the risk of abuse and felt safe.
Care was planned with the person and their relatives' input. Staff knew the person well and understood the support the person needed to stay safe and healthy. Staff liaised well with external health and social care professionals as well as the person's relatives. This helped the person to receive individually tailored care which met their needs.
Staff were caring and friendly; they had built a good rapport with the person. Staff provided care and support in a way which maintained the person's independence, privacy and dignity. The person was treated with respect and involved in making decisions about their care.
The person was given the information they needed about their care in a way they could understand. The person had regular opportunities to give their views on what they did and did not like about the way their care and support was provided..
The person received a sufficient amount to eat and drink, and their meals reflected their food preferences. The person was supported to spend their time involved in enjoyable, age appropriate activities.
Appropriate checks were carried out on staff before they were allowed to work with the person. The person was supported by staff who received relevant training, supervision and performance review which helped staff to provide effective and appropriate support.
The registered manager was passionate about providing high quality care which helped people to develop their skills and achieve their goals. There were systems in place assess and monitor the quality of care provided.
For more details please see the full report.
Rating:
This was the first inspection of this service since it registered with the CQC on 2 May 2018. We did not give the service a rating. This was because there was insufficient evidence available to make a judgement and award a rating
Why we inspected:
This was a planned inspection in line with our inspection schedule..
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive. We will inspect in line with our inspection programme or sooner if required.