Creative Support - Melody Road

Updated 16 February 2022

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Where people did not communicate verbally, we observed their interactions with support staff.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, 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 a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission who was on leave at the time we inspected the service. 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 24 hours' notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the management team would be available to support the inspection when we visited.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered with us. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the area manager, team manager and support workers. We also received feedback from a healthcare professional and day centre staff who had experience of working with the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found in relation to people's care records, staff employment, training and auditing systems.

Updated 16 February 2022

About the service

Creative Support- Melody Road is a supported living service for adults with an autistic spectrum disorder, learning disabilities and mental health needs. At the time of our inspection the service was supporting nine people in one adapted building but only three of the people were supported with personal care.

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.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

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: Staff knew people well and supported them in a way that enhanced their choice, control and independence. People had support to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Right Care: Staff knew people well and attended to their care with compassion. Care records were robust and included individual information about people so that the person- centred support could be provided.

Right Culture: Staff valued diversity and supported improvement-driven culture which ensured people were respected, included and empowered to choose the way they wanted to live their lives.

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 mental capacity assessments we reviewed did not always included all the required information to note how decisions were reached, but the provider had followed the Mental Capacity Act (2005) principals as required.

Although staff said they received the necessary support to meet their role expectations, records showed gaps in one to one meetings with their line manager and observations. People’s care needs were appropriately assessed, with the involvement from the family, which helped staff to have a good understanding of what was important to people and how best to support them. Care records reflected the support people required to attend to their health needs and dietary requirements. Specialised training was attended by staff which helped them to meet people's individual care needs.

We were assured that use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was effective. Staff were trained and knew how to recognise, and report abuse so that people could be protected from harm as necessary. Risks to people were assessed and managed in a least restrictive way possible where it was identified that people required support to ensure their safety. Staff levels were adequate to support people’s involvement in the community as and when they wanted to. Appropriate recruitment checks were completed before staff started working with people. People’s medicines management needs were assessed making sure people received the necessary support to take their medicines as prescribed.

Staff were caring and compassionate towards the people they support. People were encouraged to make decisions in how they wanted to be supported and choose their staff members that they felt comfortable being around. Staff recognised and encouraged people to maintain their independence skills so they could feel empowered and able to carry out activities for themselves.

Person-centred care approach was one of the core values that staff had imbedded when supporting people with their short and long-term goals and aspirations. We observed staff understanding and being mindful of people’s communication needs, being thoughtful when organising meaningful activities for them and helping to expand their social circles.

Quality of care and empowering of people to make their own decisions was the primary aim of the service which meant that people could live independently in their homes and according to their wishes. Skilled leadership at the service encouraged staff’s engagement and inclusiveness in planning and delivering of care provision. The provider ensured that people had access to healthcare organisations where they required information and support related to their well-being.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This was the first inspection of the service since it registered with the CQC on 30 September 2020.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on when the service registered with us.

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.