Coalpit Flats

Coalpit Flats is a supported living service for people living with learning

disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder who may also have mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there were five people using the service.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

What life is like for people using this service:

People were safe because staff understood any risks to their health and wellbeing and what action to take if they thought people were at risk of harm. The registered manager ensured there were always enough staff on duty who had been trained in safe medicines management and good infection control practices.

People received effective care from staff who were knowledgeable and had the skills and experience to support them. Staff encouraged people to follow a healthy diet and had good relationships with other healthcare professionals to ensure people received timely support when they needed it. People made their own decisions or were given support to do so in their best interests.

People had caring, kind supportive relationships with the staff who supported them. Staff promoted people’s privacy, dignity and diversity and took pride when people achieved some independence in their lives.

Staff supported people to live interesting and fulfilled lives and achieve their goals and ambitions. Information was provided in formats that was accessible to people and staff ensured people’s voices were heard.

People, relatives and staff were happy with the management of the service and told us the registered manager was actively involved in the daily routines and readily available to discuss any matters. Staff felt they were fully supported by the registered manager and were included in any developments of the service.

More information is in the Detailed Findings below.

Rating at last inspection:

Good (report published 18 August 2016).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. We found the provider had maintained the characteristics of Good in all areas and the overall rating remains as Good.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner. .

Turning Point is a provider that offers specialist support for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health diagnoses. Coalpit Flats specialises in providing supported living ‘aftercare services’; primarily for people who have been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and then discharged from certain sections of the Act. The provider works closely with other professional organisations in providing the agreed care and support people need. Coalpit Flats provide personal care and support for up to five people who live in their own flat with support from staff, up to 24 hours each day. Four people were supported to live in their own flat on the day of our inspection visit. Coalpit flats has a communal lounge where people can meet and spend time together.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the service is run.

Staff told us they were trained to protect people from the risks of abuse and knew how to report any concerns they had. The provider displayed an information poster to remind staff of action they should take if they had a concern. Risks had been assessed and staff knew what action to take to reduce the risk of injury or harm to people. People were supported to take their prescribed medicines by trained staff.

Staff worked to the agreed support hours for people which met people’s health and social care needs. The provider’s recruitment process checked staff were of good character and suitable to work with people living at the flats.

Staff received training in core care practices and specialist training in managing behaviours that challenged, and in understanding autism. This training gave them the skills they needed for their job role. They were supported by the registered manager who encouraged staff to develop their skills and knowledge.

People had been involved in planning their care. Staff were very knowledgeable about people’s needs and were able to effectively support these. Additional training took place to update and refresh staff skills and knowledge. Staff said people’s care plans provided them with detailed information they needed to support people safely and effectively.

Staff knew people very well and how to avoid trigger factors that might increase people’s anxiety levels. This knowledge enabled staff to divert and de-escalate any anxiety and reduce the potential for incidences of behaviours that challenged.

People who wished to be were involved in their shopping and menu planning and had choices about food and drink from staff that were kind and caring.

The registered manager and staff understood their responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and worked within the principles of this. Management had an understanding of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Health care professionals were involved in people’s care and support and staff followed guidance given by multi-disciplinary team professionals. People’s care and support was reviewed when required and staff supported people to access healthcare appointments to maintain their wellbeing.

The provider had quality monitoring processes which included audits and checks on medicines management, care records and staff practices. Where improvement was needed, action was taken.

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our findings during the inspection, speaking with people using the service, the staff supporting them and from looking at records. If you wish to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.

Is the service safe?

People we spoke with told us they were satisfied with the care and support provided by staff working for the service.

Safeguarding procedures were robust and staff understood how to safeguard the people they supported. The manager was aware of his responsibilities for reporting safeguarding concerns under local multi agency protocols.

Staff had received or were booked onto training about the Mental Capacity Act. The manager was able to give examples of when 'best interest' meetings would be necessary.

Is the service effective?

Full assessments were carried out for people and reviewed on a regular basis. Support times were agreed and documented in people's care and support plans.

Information in people's care records was detailed and up to date. Support plans and risk assessments were reflective of people's assessed needs. These records clearly demonstrated how people were progressing in the areas they required support. People were involved in planning their support and signed their documentation where they were able, to confirm their agreement with the care and support to be provided.

Is the service caring?

We spoke with three people who used the service. The feedback we received indicated people were happy with the care and support they received. We also observed staff interacting with people. We saw that staff were kind and friendly and responded to people appropriately.

People's needs and wishes were clearly recorded within their support plans and staff provided support for people to meet these needs, For example one person had recently been supported to sort out their finances. We saw the person having a discussion with staff about their finances and how they were going to budget their money in future.

Is the service responsive?

Systems and processes were in place to monitor and manage accidents and incidents. These clearly recorded the nature of the accident, or incident and the action taken. We found the provider took steps to ensure that learning took place and any future occurrences were minimised.

The housing association responsible for the flats held regular tenants meetings with people and fed back any areas of concern to the manager.

People were able to approach the manager and senior staff freely to discuss any concerns they may have. We observed positive relationships between people and their keyworkers which fostered a positive environment for people.

Is the service well led?

There were processes and systems in place to monitor the service provided. The provider used the information gathered through these processes to assess and improve the quality of service for people.

Staff understood their roles and received support and training on a regular basis to ensure that they were competent to provide the care and support to the required standard.