Class (UK) Limited

Updated 22 May 2019

The inspection:

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection team was made up of one inspector.

Service and service type: Class UK Limited is supported living service which provides personal care to people with a learning disability and/or autism.

The service was owned by three directors who managed the service. Two of the owners had registered as managers with the Care Quality Commission. The registered manager and provider are responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

This was an announced inspection. We gave the service 48 hours notice as this is a small service and we needed to be sure someone would be in.

What we did:

Before the inspection, we reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must let us know about, such as abuse; and we sought feedback from the local authority and other professionals involved with the service. We assessed the information that providers send us at least once annually, to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection we spoke with the nominated individual, both registered managers and two members of care staff. People were not available to speak with us or did not want to so we provided them with questionnaires to complete with the support of their keyworker. We also contacted three relatives of people who used the service and wrote to five health and social care professionals for their view of the service. We looked at three people’s care records including their medication records and daily notes. We looked at three staff files. We reviewed training and supervision records and documents relating to the management of the service including complaints and compliments, minutes of meetings and quality audits.

After the inspection we made further requests for information which was provided by the registered managers.

Updated 22 May 2019

About the service:

Class UK Limited provides care and support to people with a learning disability and autism in a 'supported living' setting so that they can live 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. At the time of inspection there were 12 people living in four separate houses receiving 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.

People’s experience of using this service:

People told us they felt safe with staff. Individual risks to people had been assessed and these were well managed by knowledgeable staff who knew how to support people safely.

There were sufficient staff employed who had been safely recruited. People had access to one to one support as and when needed which gave them choice and control over their day to day lives.

Medicines were managed safely by staff who had been trained and assessed as competent. Staff had training in food hygiene and infection control and followed good practice to prevent contamination and the spread of infection.

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

People were supported to have enough to eat and drink which met their preferences and any health needs. Staff supported people to be independent, people were assisted to do their own grocery shopping and prepare meals.

Staff received training and ongoing monitoring and support to ensure they were competent in their role. Staff enjoyed working at the company and felt well supported by the management team. Staff worked with healthcare professionals and followed their guidance and advice about how to support people effectively.

Staff were kind and caring and treated people with dignity and respect. People had regular care staff who knew how they liked to be supported. Staff knew how to communicate with people to help people express their views and wishes.

People were supported to access their local community and enjoy activities and interests of their choice. The service supported people to maintain relationships that were important to them.

Information was provided to people in easy read formats to help people’s understanding, including how to make a complaint or raise concerns.

We made a recommendation about recording people's preferences around end of life care.

Systems and processes were in place to monitor safety and quality and drive improvements. People and staff were included in the running of the service and were provided with opportunities to share their ideas and give feedback.

Rating at last inspection: Good. (Last report published October 2016).

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor all intelligence received about the service to ensure the next planned inspection is scheduled accordingly.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk