About the service Carlisle Mencap Limited provides personal care to people who live in their own homes. 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. This included the service providing care and support to people living in four ‘supported living’ settings so that people can live as independently as possible. At the time of this inspection, the service provided personal care to 26 people living with a learning disability. The service is registered to provide support to both adults and children.
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 is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Systems were in place to protect people from the risk of abuse and staff understood their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and whistle blowing procedures. Relatives confirmed they thought people were safe and well cared for. There were enough staff deployed to meet the needs of people and safe recruitment procedures were in place. Some people were involved in the recruitment process of new staff.
Staff received training appropriate to the needs of people and were well supported in their job roles. Staff received supervision and appraisals in line with the providers policy and staff told us they enjoyed their work.
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 service ensured people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People were treated with dignity and respect. Staff were knowledgeable in the actions to take to maintain the privacy and dignity of people and described the actions they took to uphold this especially during personal care support.
Opportunities were available for people to be involved in a wide range of meaningful activities that were appropriate to them. People were encouraged to maintain contact and relationships with people important to them.
A range of systems were in place to monitor the quality and management of the service. Relatives told us they thought the service was well led and were responsive to people’s needs. Care plans contained relevant person-centred information which provided detail to guide staff in the actions to take when delivering care and support.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at the last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 24 March 2017)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on our inspection programme.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.