Priory Supported Living Lancashire

Updated 6 May 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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.

Inspection team

One inspector undertook the inspection.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in one ‘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.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage 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 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service, and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

Prior to the inspection we looked at all of the information we held about the service. This included feedback and notifications which the provider is required to send to us by law. We also asked for feedback from professionals.

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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the relative of one person and observed staff interactions with the person during a visit to their home, with permission. We spoke with five staff members. These included, two care staff, the deputy manager, the associate director of quality and the registered manager who had overall responsibility. We looked at a number of records including, one person’s care record and medication administrations, audits and monitoring relating to the operation and management of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to receive information and evidence to support the inspection.

Updated 6 May 2022

About the service

Priory supported living Lancashire is a Domiciliary care service providing personal care, supported living for one person in their own home.

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

Medicines were mainly managed safely, medication records had been completed and staff had undertaken the relevant training. Where the key had been left in the medication cupboard the registered manager took action to ensure these were stored safely. We made a recommendation about this.

Staff were recruited safely, and there was sufficient numbers of staff to support the needs of the person. Policies and guidance was in place to protect people from abuse, and staff knew what to do if abuse was suspected. Fire risk assessments and personal evacuation plans had been completed.

People received good care, their individual needs, choices and independence was supported. Care records contained information about individual needs and how to support them. How to communicate effectively with the person had been considered and, an activities programme was in place. Staff told us the activities provided had improved since the COVID-19 lockdown. A system to deal with complaints had been considered.

Team meetings were taking place and staff surveys had been completed. Continuous learning and improving care was supported. People were complimentary about the registered manager, he was open and transparent during the inspection. We saw copies of audits undertaken, where these had not been completed in full recently, the registered manager took immediate action to ensure these had been done.

Staff had received relevant training to support them in their role. Professionals had been involved in the health care needs of the person. 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.

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. The service supported the persons choices in daily life and their decisions. The registered manager and the staff team clearly knew the persons needs and supported them to be involved in making choices in their day to day life.

We undertook this inspection at the same time as CQC inspected a range of urgent and emergency care services in Lancashire and South Cumbria. To understand the experience of social care providers and people who use social care services, we asked a range of questions in relation to accessing urgent and emergency care. The responses we received have been used to inform and support system wide feedback.

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

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection to provide a rating for the service.

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 05 August 2021 and this is the first inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have made a recommendation about the safe storage of medicines.

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.