We carried out a review of the data available to us about Gingerbread Office 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 Gingerbread Office, you can give feedback on this service.
Gingerbread Office, known to people as Kasbah is a supported living service. The service provides support to people with learning disabilities, autism, sensory needs and physical disabilities. At the time of the inspection five people with autism needs received a regulated activity. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.
The service was provided to people who lived their own homes. People lived in shared houses. People who received the regulated activity, personal care, lived in two shared houses which were based on the same site as the office building. There was a driveway and garden space shared between the houses and a small animal petting farm on site.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People accessing the service used pictorial communication tools to tell us they were happy with the support they received. Relatives were also positive in their feedback. One relative said, “They help [my relative] with their self-esteem. It’s the best thing for [my relative] and the family.” Another said, “I feel relieved that [my relative is] in a safe and warm environment.”
There were areas we identified concerns. These were addressed during or immediately after the inspection. However, the system of auditing in place had not identified these prior and needed to be improved. The registered manager was not networking with others to learn and share best practice which would be of benefit.
People were supported to be safe. Risks to people were managed with mitigations in place. People received support with their medicines. However, prior to the inspection medicine records needed to be improved and staff competency to support people with their medicines had not been assessed. This was addressed at the time of the inspection. Staff wore appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and people were protected from the risk of infection.
Staff recruited directly were recruited safely, although some records were not in place prior to the inspection where staff had been employed via an agency. Staff told us they were well supported and had the skills and training the needed to support people. There were enough staff to support people.
People’s needs were assessed, and people received support individualised to their needs. People were encouraged to maintain their health and were supported to access healthcare services where this support was needed. When things went wrong staff responded appropriately and took action to reduce the risk of incidents occurring again.
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 made decisions and choices about their lives, what activities they were involved with and how they spent their time.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right support:
•The model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and independence. People made choices about their care and support. People were encouraged and supported increase their independence. People were supported to access their communities in participate in activities of their choice such as taking part in sports and going on holidays.
Right care:
• Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. Staff knew people well and understood their needs, likes and dislikes. People’s support was individual to their needs and wishes. People were supported by staff who were kind and caring and listened to them and their relatives.
Right culture:
•The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives. There was a positive culture at the service. Staff and the registered manager were passionate about their roles and about providing good support to people. This had a positive impact on the support they provided to people.
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 28/06/2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.
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.