Kalm Living

Updated 31 January 2020

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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

One inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. 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.

The service had a manager registered with the CQC. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 11 December 2019. We visited the office location on 16 December 2019 and visits to people’s homes took place on 7 and 9 January 2020. The inspection ended on 10 January 2020.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

We reviewed information we had received since the service was registered. This included statutory notifications. These are events that happen in the service that the provider is required to tell us bout.

We used this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

We visited and spoke with both two people who used the service and their relatives about their experience of the care and support provided. We spoke with two senior members of staff as well as the provider, registered manager and administrator.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and their medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We received updated documentation from the provider to confirm the improved record keeping.

Updated 31 January 2020

About the service

Kalm Living is a supported living service that currently provides care and support to 31 people living in individual group homes in the north Devon area of Bideford.

The service had operated for several years as an 'enabling' service only and as such was not required to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). In order to provide personal care to people, Kalm Living registered with CQC on 13 November 2018 and is now a regulated service.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

At the time of inspection, two people received personal care. They each lived with other people in two different homes.

Within each home, there are designated private areas within the homes for staff sleeping in which does not impinge on the shared communal space. There are no designated offices in the homes.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People felt safe at Kalm Living. Staff understood their responsibilities about keeping people safe. Risks were identified and managed. Incidents and accidents were recorded so they could be reflected upon to make improvements to the service. Staff understood how to prevent the spread of infection.

People were supported by staff who were motivated and passionate in their roles. Staff were recruited safely, received the appropriate training and regular supervision. They felt part of the running of the service and that their opinions mattered. Some staff had worked with the people they looked after for many years previously and knew them extremely well.

People were treated in a kind and caring way by staff who supported them to lead fulfilling lives based on their choices and preferences. People were encouraged to be independent and try new things.

The individual group houses had a ‘family feel’ to them and felt like it was the person’s home.

People’s care plans were up to date and reflected people’s support and care needs. People received their medicines safely. People and relatives knew how to complain if needed.

People were encouraged to be part of the local community and undertake activities and interests based on their choices and preferences.

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

The service was led by a registered manager who had a clear vision about the quality of care they wanted to provide. This was shared by the staff team who worked within an open and welcoming culture.

There were quality assurance systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service to focus on continuous improvement.

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

This service was registered with us on 13/11/2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was the first planned inspection based on the provider’s registration date.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.