Springvale Supported Living

Updated 19 February 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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 14 January 2022 and ended on 20 January 2022. We visited the service on 14 January 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since its registration. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior support worker, support workers and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We observed interactions between staff and people who used the service.

We reviewed a range of records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. We reviewed a range of medication administration records (MARs). We reviewed four people’s care records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We received feedback from healthcare professionals. We looked at quality assurance records and people’s care records.

Updated 19 February 2022

About the service

Springvale Supported Living is a supported living service providing support and personal care for people with a learning disability, autism and communication needs in one house with shared communal areas. At the time of our inspection there were six people using the service. 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.

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

People who used the service and their relatives told us they felt safe around staff and that staff had the skills and experience to support them appropriately. The management of risks was robust and ensured people were able to live independent lives. There were sufficient staff deployed to meet people’s needs and support provided was in line with assessed one-to-one hours.

We were assured the service were following safe infection prevention and control procedures to keep people safe.

People who used the service and their relatives told us staff were kind, caring and respectful towards them. People's care plans and the support from the registered manager provided staff with the information required to support people effectively.

The provider had undertaken regular audits to look at lessons that could be learnt and embedded in the service.

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right support: Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and Independence

¿ People had individual goals and objectives which they were supported by staff to work towards. Staff placed particular focus on ensuring people were able to live as independently as possible and supported people to do so. People were encouraged to have control in their daily lives and staff used a range of communication methods to ensure people were able to express their views.

Right care: Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human rights

¿ People who used the service and their relatives told us they felt the service supported people in a kind and caring way. The service was situated in a residential area and there were no outward signs to differentiate it from other houses in the street. Local shops and amenities were within walking distance of the service. The kitchen was accessible to everyone and people were encouraged to do their own meal preparations with support from staff. Staff knew people exceptionally well and ensured that people were able to be supported with their care needs.

Right culture: Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives

¿ The culture of the service was open and empowered individuals to express their views and be in control of their lives. The management team at Springvale was praised by relatives for their way of running the service and ensuring people’s views were at the centre of the support provided. Relatives spoke highly of staff and the leadership structure in the service.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 9 May 2019 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 4 October 2016.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on when the service first registered with us.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.