Background to this inspection
Updated
15 February 2018
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.
West Midlands Branch (Shaw Community Living (SLS) Limited was previously registered under the provider name of Shaw Community Services Limited (DCA) up until February 2016 and was rated Good. Therefore, this was the provider’s first inspection at this location since newly registering with us in February 2016. The inspection history for the location under the previous provider was used to inform the planning of this inspection because there had been no other changes at the location; the registered manager and the running of the service had remained consistent.
This inspection took place on 4 and 5 January 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in. The membership of the inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Inspection site visit activity started on 4 January and ended on 8 January 2018. It included a visit to one of the supported living homes on 5 January 2018. Telephone calls to people using the service on 8 January 2018. We visited the office location on 4 January 2018 to see the registered manager and office staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures.
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 looked at other information we held about the provider and the service. This included information received from the statutory notifications the provider had sent us. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law. We also sought information from commissioners including the local authority who commission services on behalf of people and Healthwatch. The local consumer champion for health and social care services. We used this information to help us plan this inspection.
Updated
15 February 2018
This inspection took place on 4 and 5 January2018. The inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.
West Midlands Branch (Shaw Community Living (SLS) Limited is registered to provide personal care to people living with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder, mental health, physical disability, sensory impairment and younger adults in their own homes. At the time of our inspection 17 people were in receipt of care from the provider.
This service also provides care and support to people living in five ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home 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 care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.” Registering the Right Support CQC policy.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People who used the service and relatives told us they were very happy with the care they received and felt safe. Detailed risk assessments had been completed that ensured staff were aware of individual risks and how to reduce these, in order to protect people from harm.
People told us staff supported them to receive their medicines as prescribed and at the right times.
Staff had a good understanding of infection control and so will able to help people stay fit and well.
People told us they were supported by regular consistent staff. There was a robust system for recruitment in place that ensured staff were suitable for the role for which they were employed.
People and their relatives felt staff employed were well trained and had a good knowledge to help them deliver high quality care and support. People had developed good relationships with the staff who supported them. Staff cared for people with kindness, patience and understanding. Staff had time to meet people's needs and to spend time in conversations with people individually, without rushing. People were provided with care which was respectful, dignified and took into account people’s right to privacy and confidentiality.
Staff supported people to access Health and social care professionals when required to support and maintain their health and wellbeing.
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. Staff demonstrated their understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and its relation to protecting people who used the service from unlawful restrictions. Records confirmed consent was sought for a variety of decisions in relation to the care people received. This confirmed people who used the service or their relatives had been consulted about and agreed to the care they received.
People told us they were treated with dignity and respect by the staff who supported them. People who used the service and their relatives worked in partnership with staff to plan their care. Care records were personalised and contained detailed information about what was important to people. There was a stable staff team who knew and respected people as individuals and provided extremely responsive care which put people at the heart of all the care offered. Care plans detailed how people liked or disliked their care and support to be delivered. Care plans were reviewed at least monthly or when people’s circumstances changed.
People told us they were encouraged to maintain their independence and achieve their personal goals. People were encouraged to be active within the local community to enhance the quality of their lives.
People’s views were regularly sought so any improvements of the service provided could be identified. We saw extremely positive feedback about the service and the care people received. Any complaints received had been dealt with promptly and brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
All the people we spoke with were extremely complimentary about the leadership and management of the service. Audits, quality monitoring and feedback was obtained regularly that confirmed the quality of service being provided to people.