Archived: Century Way

Century Way provides personal care to people with a learning disability in a supported living setting. People using the service lived in one of two houses with shared communal facilities. 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 our visit, the service supported four people with personal care needs.

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

We found the provider’s oversight of fire risk was not effective and there were not enough staff to support people to safely evacuate at night. Some staff were not familiar with the fire evacuation equipment. These issues had not been identified through the provider’s quality monitoring processes, but, were addressed promptly following the inspection.

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:

The model of care and setting maximised people's choice, control and independence. Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making. Staff supported people to achieve their aspirations and goals.

People could take part in activities and pursue interests that were tailored to them. The service gave people opportunities to try new activities or seek employment in a way that enhanced and enriched their lives.

Staff knew people well and communicated with people in ways that met their needs. Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community.

People had a choice about their living environment and were able to personalise their rooms.

Right Care

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.

Risks to people’s health, emotional state or behaviours were identified and staff worked with people to reduce possible risks.

Medicines were safely managed. Staff followed good infection prevention practice.

People received kind and compassionate personalised care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy, dignity and human rights. They understood and responded to their individual needs.

Staff received appropriate training to support people and to empower them to be as independent as possible.

Right Culture

The provider had systems to seek feedback from people about the service and the support they received. Staff spoke of working to increase people’s independence and empowering them to make active decisions. However, records of some meetings did not always evidence how people were involved and empowered to make decisions or give feedback. Staff notices or equipment intruded into some areas of people’s homes.

Staff knew and understood people well and engaged with them. They were responsive, to their needs and wishes, and supported them to live a life of their choosing.

People knew how to complain if they were unhappy with the service.

The provider evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate. An action plan had been developed to address some areas for improvement.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good published on 7 November 2019.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture and provide a rating for the service.

Enforcement

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to fire risk and staffing levels. Please see the action have asked the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety.

We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.