Kingfisher is registered to provide supported living for up to five adults with mental health needs. The service offers support to enable people to make the transition from rehabilitation placements to full independent living and social inclusion. The staff office is located within the housing complex where people who use the service live as tenants. There is a small area for parking at the front of the building. At the time of the inspection, the service was providing support to five people.
The service has a registered manager. 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.
We undertook this unannounced inspection on the 22 October 2015.
We found staff were recruited safely and there was sufficient staff to support people. Staff were on duty from 11am to 8pm and people spoken with felt this was sufficient to meet their needs.
Staff received training in how to safeguard people from the risk of harm and abuse. They knew what to do if they had concerns. There were policies and procedures available to guide them.
People had assessments of their needs which included any potential risks to their safety. Staff had read the risk assessments and knew the steps to take to minimise risk.
We found staff had a caring and professional approach and found ways to promote people’s independence, privacy and dignity. Staff provided information to people and included them in decisions about their support and care.
People had their needs assessed and support was provided in a person-centred way. They were supported to maintain their physical and mental health needs.
We found staff encouraged and supported people to have a healthy diet and lifestyle but recognised that as all the people who used the service had capacity, this was their choice.
Staff had received training in legislation such as the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the Mental Health Act 1983. They were aware of the need to gain consent when delivering care and support and what to do if people lacked capacity to agree to it.
We found staff supported people with activities of daily living including access to community facilities and keeping in touch in family and friends.
Staff received a range of training, supervision and support. This included training considered essential by the registered provider and also specific training to meet the needs of people they supported.
We found staff had made links with other agencies to ensure information was exchanged appropriately.
We found there was a quality assurance system which consisted of audits to check progress and meetings to obtain people’s views. People confirmed they were listened to and could make suggestions.
There was a complaints process and information provided to people who used the service and staff in how to raise concerns directly with senior managers.