Archived: Small Opportunities Office

Updated 14 October 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. The inspection checked 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 home and to provide a rating for the home under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection was carried out on 14 July 2015. The provider was given 48 hours notice because the locations provide a supported living service for younger adults who are often out during the day and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. It was carried out by an inspector and expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

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 they do well and improvements they plan to make. It included information about notifications. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that the home must inform us about. We contacted selected stakeholders including two health and social care professionals, the local authority and the local GP surgery to obtain their views about the support provided. They were happy for us to quote them in our report.

During the inspection we spent time with people who were supported by the service. We focused on speaking with people and spoke with staff. We were invited by people to spend time in people’s homes and we took time to observe how people and staff interacted. We spoke with two relatives of people. We spoke with the provider, a manager, and two support staff.

We looked at three sets of personal records. They included individual support plans, risk assessments and health records. We examined other records including three staff files, quality monitoring, records of medicine administration and documents relating to the maintenance of the environment.

The last inspection was carried out on 6 June 2013 and no concerns were identified.

Updated 14 October 2015

We inspected Small Opportunities on the 14 July 2015. Small Opportunities provided supported living to people living in the Brighton and Hove area. There were two houses and one two bedroom flat. The service supported nine people at the time of our inspection. The service provided 24 hour support for younger adults with a learning disability. The Care Quality Commission inspects the care and support the service provides, but does not inspect the accommodation they live in. The office base for the service was located away from people’s homes.

This inspection was announced, that meant the provider and staff knew we were coming shortly before we visited the service.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 told us they felt safe and were happy living there. One person told us, “I always feel safe. If something is dangerous the staff will help me. For example, staff help with the ironing because I could burn myself or cause a fire because I can’t yet iron properly”. We saw people were supported by staff who knew them well, gave them individual attention and looked at providing additional assistance as and when required.

People and their relatives spoke positively of the service. They were complimentary about the caring, positive nature of the staff. We were told, “The staff here are caring. I like them because they are friendly and they help me. They help me with cooking, washing, ironing and general advice on how to live my life. I think they care about me very much. I am very happy.” Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and their individual preferences.

Staff and the provider were knowledgeable about the Mental Capacity Act 2005. They were aware this legislation protected the rights of people who lacked capacity to make decisions about their care and welfare.

Staff received training to support them with their role on a continuous basis to ensure they could meet people’s needs effectively.

People told us they were supported to maintain their independence and maintain their life skills with the support from staff. One person said, “I feel like I am getting on well here and I think this is the best place for me.”

People received regular assessments of their needs and any identified risks. Records were maintained in relation to people’s healthcare, for example when people were supported with making or attending GP appointments. People said they liked the service because it provided support which was varied to meet their needs at the time.

People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the provider and said they were visible and could be easily contacted. The relative of one person said, “I can see or contact [the provider] at any time to air my views. Their heart is in the right place and that shows in everything they do. Whatever they do is for the right reason.”