About the service Spencer and Arlington provide personal care to people in their own home. The service supports some people on a 24-hour basis and others who may require support with personal care needs at specific times during the day and/or night. Some people using the service lived in supported living houses. The facilities are shared, in mixed housing for groups of up to four people. The service was supporting 71 people with personal care at the time of our inspection.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that was appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Without exception, people were positive about the service. One relative said, “I am very, very happy. I would recommend it most definitely. I can contact them anytime. I know [Name] is safe and well looked after.”
People received their medicine correctly, and staff had been trained. Medication audits and spot checks were carried out. Systems and processes were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff knew how to prevent the spread of infection.
Assessments were in place which detailed people’s needs and choices. Staff had been trained and were given regular supervision. People were supported to eat and drink in line with their assessed needs. Staff worked with other agencies to supply consistent, effective, timely care. People were supported to live healthier lives and could access healthcare services when they needed to. 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.
Staff were kind, caring and compassionate and supported people to maintain their relationships with friends and relatives. People were supported to avoid social isolation. Staff could clearly explain how they supported people in a dignified and respectful way.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence, and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
Care was personalised and ensured people had choice and control which met their individual needs and preferences. The service considered how they could meet people’s communication needs, and information was available to them in different formats. The provider had a complaints procedure in place, and people knew how to complain if they needed to. At the time of the inspection, people using the service were vibrant and did not always want to consider end of life care. We have made a recommendation about end of life care.
The service had a well-defined management structure; roles had been defined. Audits were in place people were encouraged to give their feedback about the service. This information was used to look at how the service could be improved. Regular surveys were carried out with a range of people, relatives, staff, and professionals. Information was used to make improvements to the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection (and update) The last rating for this service was Good (12 December 2016)
Why we inspected This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.