Friendly Support Services Limited

Updated 8 September 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 checked 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.

This was a comprehensive inspection that was completed by one inspector on 26 & 27 July 2017 and was announced. The provider was given notice because the service was small and we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return [PIR]. This 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. The provider returned the PIR and we took this into account when we made judgements in this report.

We also reviewed other information that we held about the service such as notifications, which are events which happened in the service that the provider is required to tell us about, and information that had been sent to us by other agencies. This included the local authority who commissioned services from the provider.

During our inspection we spoke with two people who used the service and four members of staff including the registered manager, team leader and care staff. We looked at records and charts relating to three people and three staff recruitment records. We looked at other information related to the running of and the quality of the service. This included quality assurance audits, training information for care staff, staff meeting minutes and arrangements for managing complaints.

During our inspection we observed how staff interacted with people who used the service.

Updated 8 September 2017

Friendly Support Services Limited provides supported living to four people living in Northamptonshire. This service supports people with learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries and physical disabilities. At the last inspection in July 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found that the service remained Good.

People continued to receive safe care and support. Staff were knowledgeable about the risks to people and effective plans of care had been developed to guide staff in mitigating people’s known risks.

People could be assured that sufficient numbers of staff were available to provide their care and that they would receive their prescribed medicines safely. People were supported by staff that knew them well and had received the support, supervision and training that they needed to provide effective care.

People were supported to maintain adequate nutrition and staff promptly referred people to medical professionals when required.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were treated with dignity and respect and could be assured that they would be supported to pursue their interests and hobbies. Staff were committed to providing care according to people’s individual preferences.

There was a strong system of quality assurance overseen by a visible and supportive management team. People felt able to approach the management team and they actively promoted a person centred culture that was focused upon people’s strengths.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.