Background to this inspection
Updated
9 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
One inspector visited two supported living services in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire and met with people who used the service and staff.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in a number of 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 service had two managers registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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 the service notice of the inspection. This was because the service is large, wide spread across three counties and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to meet with us.
What we did before inspection
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. We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We met with six people who used the service. We were unable to obtain detailed feedback from everyone who received care and support from Thera South Midlands due to their communication needs. Staff supported the inspection team to obtain as much detailed feedback as possible from people considering their communication needs. We spoke with both registered managers, two senior care staff, and six care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment 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 at training data and quality assurance records. We also spoke with four relatives.
Updated
9 January 2020
About the service
Thera South Midlands is a supported living service providing care and support to people in their own homes in the counties of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire. At the time of the inspection there were 30 people receiving personal care and support in 15 supported living settings.
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
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.
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.
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. Staff felt a disability should not restrict people’s ability to be a full and active member of society. People were supported with meaningful activities of their choosing both in and out of the service.
People received kind and compassionate care. Relatives trusted the services and felt their family members were cared for and safe. The service supported people’s relationships with their families and peers. Relatives could openly voice their concerns, and they felt listened to and respected.
People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff. Staff knew people well and respected people’s dignity and confidentiality. Staff understood and could recognise signs of abuse and knew how and who to report their concerns to.
An induction and training programme were provided to staff to ensure they were suitably skilled to support people safely.
People’s medicines, equipment and environment were managed safely. Their nutritional needs were met but mealtime experiences were not always a positive experience for people.
The services were managed well and where any issues were highlighted managers acted to make improvements.
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 18 February 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the new registration for this service.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Thera South Midlands under the ‘archived’ reports on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.