Archived: Kelly Street Supported Living Service

Updated 9 December 2014

This inspection was carried out by two inspectors on 21 and 30 July 2014. Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We received one questionnaire from a person who used the service telling us their opinions on the quality of the service they received. We also looked at the information we already held about the service, including notifications sent to us informing us of events that occurred at the service, and of safeguarding alerts raised.

During our visits, we spoke with five people who used the service, one relative, five care workers, the registered manager and one of the deputy managers. We spoke with a second person’s relative after our visit. We spoke with a professional who was also visiting the service on the day of our inspection, and spoke with another professional involved with the service after our visit. We observed the care and support provided to people, observed a shift handover session between staff, reviewed three people’s personal care and support records and looked at the personnel records for four staff. We also reviewed other records relating to the management of the service such as complaints, meeting minutes, health and safety checks, incident and accident records and safeguarding records. After our visit, the registered manager provided us with further information about staff recruitment that was held at the provider organisation’s head office, and not at the service premises.

This report was written during the testing phase of our new approach to regulating adult social care services. After this testing phase, inspection of consent to care and treatment, restraint, and practice under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) was moved from the key question ‘Is the service safe?’ to ‘Is the service effective?’.

The ratings for this location were awarded in October 2014. They can be directly compared with any other service we have rated since then, including in relation to consent, restraint, and the MCA under the ‘Effective’ section. Our written findings in relation to these topics, however, can be read in the ‘Is the service safe’ sections of this report.

Updated 9 December 2014

We carried out this unannounced inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and to pilot a new inspection process being introduced by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which looks at the overall quality of the service.

The service was last inspected by CQC in November 2013 and found to be meeting regulations relating to care and welfare of people who use services, management of medicines and staffing.

At the time of our inspection Kelly Street Supported Living Service provided support with personal care to nine people living at Kelly Street and Ascot House. Each of the people supported by the service had learning disabilities, and some also had physical disabilities or required support to maintain their mental health. Some of the people who use the service had sensory impairments and complex communication needs. There were six people at home during our inspection visits.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider.

People received individualised support that met their needs. The service had systems in place to ensure that people were protected from risks associated with their support, and care was planned and delivered in ways that enhanced people’s safety and welfare according to their needs and preferences.

Staff were appropriately vetted before starting work to ensure they were suitable people, and there were enough staff to safely meet people’s needs in a timely manner. People received one-to-one support when they needed it. Staff had appropriate qualifications, knowledge and skills to perform their roles, and the service had systems in place to encourage good practice and develop staff.

The service encouraged and supported people to undertake a wide range of activities, both individually and in groups. Staff supported people to attend health and medical appointments, and ensured that people received the medical care they needed when they were unwell.

Staff were appropriately supported through supervision and appraisal meetings, and the service had an open and transparent culture that encouraged feedback from people who used the service and staff. Feedback was acted upon, people were encouraged to make decisions about their care and support and the service ensured that information was provided to people in ways they could understand.