3 December 2018
During a routine inspection
RNIB Domiciliary Community Living Service - Redhill (RNIB CLS) provides personal care to people either living in their own independent accommodation or in one of the service’s supported living properties. The service offers specialist support to adults with visual impairment or sight loss. People may also have additional learning disabilities, emotional or mental health needs. RNIB CLS supports people across a range of locations; at the time of our inspection, the service was providing the regulated activity of personal care to 17 people across three locations. CQC does not regulate the premises used for supported living; this inspection only looked at people’s personal care and support.
People’s experience of using this service
People were now being supported to live more independently and develop their skills. The management team had worked hard to engage more effectively with people and their representatives and develop the service 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 to ensure that people with learning disabilities or autism can live as ordinary a life as any citizen. The service was becoming better in its mission to provide bespoke support to people living with visual impairment or sight loss.
A real focus on the recruitment of permanent staff now enabled people to be supported by a regular team of staff that they trusted and who knew and understood their needs. Appropriate employment checks were carried out to ensure staff were vetted prior to appointment. Staff received induction and ongoing training and support to enable them to carry out their roles effectively.
Comprehensive assessments and care plans provided the basis of personalised care and ensured that staff supported people safely and in accordance with their needs and preferences. Risks to people were identified and managed in a way that balanced their safety with their right to freedom.
Staff facilitated opportunities for people to engage in a range of meaningful activities and work towards goals which were personal to them. People were encouraged and supported to lead active and healthy lifestyles.
Staff were kind and compassionate and people enjoyed relationships with them that were fun and inclusive. The management team championed people’s rights and worked collaboratively with each other and external partners to constantly improve the service.
Rating at last inspection
Requires Improvement (16/01/2018)
Why we inspected
This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating. We inspect all services rated as 'Requires improvement' every 12 months to ensure that we regularly monitor and review the quality and safety of the service people receive. At the last inspection we found that some people were not able to live fulfilling lives that enabled them to reach their full potential. We also identified that management and governance systems needed to be further strengthened and embedded to ensure the service was able to consistently deliver high quality and specialist support to people living with a visual impairment. At this inspection, we saw that improvements had been made to the service people received since our last inspection. We found that people’s support was not more personalised and they had greater opportunities to participate in activities that were meaningful and developed their independence.
Follow up
We will continue to engage with the provider and monitor the progress they are making against their own development plan.