Archived: Your Lifestyle LLP

Updated 23 January 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.

The inspection was announced and took place on 6 and 8 December 2017. The service was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a ‘supported living’ (domiciliary care service). We needed to be sure that the appropriate staff would be available in the office to assist with the inspection. The inspection was completed by one inspector on the first day and two inspectors on the second day.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We looked at all the information we have collected about the service. This included the previous inspection report and notifications the registered manager had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.

We looked at paperwork for six people who receive a service. This included support plans, daily notes and other documentation, such as medication records. In addition we looked at records related to the running of the service. These included a sample of health and safety, quality assurance, staff and training records.

We spoke with one person who uses the service, on the day of the inspection visit. We requested information from some relatives of people who use the service. We spoke with six staff members, on the day of the visit and received written information from a further one. On the day of the inspection we spent time with the registered manager and the operations manager. We requested information from five professionals, including the local authority safeguarding team. We received responses from two.

Updated 23 January 2018

This was an announced inspection which took place on 6 and 8 December 2017.

Your Lifestyle LLP provides care to adults with diverse needs living in a variety of ‘supported living’ settings. Not everyone using the service receives regulated activity. The Care Quality Commission only inspects the service being received by people provided with personal care, help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Nine people living in four different types of accommodation were, currently, receiving regulated activity and supported so they are able to live as independently as possible. One further person was in hospital for a short period of time. Accommodation ranges from four people sharing a tenancy to people living alone. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises used for supported living, this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

At the last inspection, on 17, 19 and 23 January 2017, the service was rated as good in three domains and requires improvement in two domains, effective and well-led. It was consequently rated as overall requires improvement. At this inspection we found the service was rated as good in all domains and therefore overall good.

There was a registered manager running the service. 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, staff and visitors were protected from harm and safety was maintained by staff who had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults and health and safety policies and procedures. Staff understood how to protect the people in their care and knew what action to take if they identified any concerns. The service responded appropriately if any safeguarding concerns were brought to their attention. General risks and risks to individuals were identified and action was taken to reduce them, as far as possible.

People benefitted from adequate staffing because individual’s needs were carefully identified and an exceptionally person centred package of care was developed. The required number of staff was provided to ensure people’s needs could be met safely and effectively.

People were supported by staff who were appropriately trained and supported to make sure they could meet people’s complex and varied needs. Care staff were effective in meeting people’s needs as described in plans of care. The service was exceptionally flexible and worked closely with health and other professionals to ensure they were able to meet people’s specific needs.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported by a committed,kind and caring staff team. Those staff who did not adhere to these values were not tolerated. Care staff built strong, caring relationships with people and knew them well. The service and care staff were fully aware of people’s equality and diversity needs which were noted in detail on plans of care. People were supported to be as independent as they were able to be by knowledgeable and informed care staff.

The service was exceptionally person centred and flexible. It was responsive to individual’s current and quickly changing needs. The well-being of the individual was at the centre of the care packages provided. People’s needs were regularly reviewed to ensure the care provided was up-to-date. Care plans included detailed information to ensure people’s individual communication needs were understood.

The registered manager and the management team ensured the service was well-led. Management was described as open, approachable and supportive. The registered manager and his team were committed to ensuring there was no discrimination relating to staff or people in the service. There was a robust and effective system of assessing, reviewing and improving the quality of care provided.