Background to this inspection
Updated
14 April 2018
We carried out this 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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
The inspection took place on 12 and 13 March 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours' notice of the inspection visit because we wanted to be sure the registered manager would be present. We also wanted to give the service sufficient time to agree with people that we could visit them or contact them by telephone to find out their views on the service. This is the first inspection of the service since it was registered on 1 March 2017.
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
On the first day of the inspection we accompanied the registered manager to visit four houses, where we met with ten people. We also met five support staff. During our visits we looked at four care plans and associated records, including records of medicines administered by staff. On the second day of the inspection we visited the agency office where we looked at staff recruitment and training records, quality monitoring records, policies and procedures.
Before the inspection we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to 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 reviewed the information provided.
Updated
14 April 2018
The inspection took place on 12 and 13 March 2018 and was announced. This was the first inspection of the service since it was registered on 1 March 2017.
The people using this service previously lived in a residential home run by Devon Sheltered Homes Trust. A decision was made by the trust to cease provision of large scale residential accommodation and to support people to move into smaller houses in the local community. 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.
Devon Sheltered Homes Trust provides care and support to people living in four ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home 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, (help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating). At the time of this inspection Devon Sheltered Housing Trust provided supported accommodation to 11 people with learning disabilities.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People told us the quality of their lives had improved significantly since they had moved into their supported living houses. Each person lived with a small group of friends they had chosen to share houses with. They had small teams of staff supporting them, who they knew well, liked and trusted. People told us their new homes were much quieter and more peaceful than the large care home they previously lived in. Many of the staff supporting them had cared for them for a number of years and knew them well. Staff turnover was low, and staff told us they enjoyed their jobs. There was a spirit of friendship, compassion and trust. The service was reliable, and there were sufficient staff employed to ensure people received support when they needed it. Staff were caring, and treated people with dignity and respect.
Staff were well trained and had the skills and knowledge to meet peoples’ needs effectively. Staff had received training on a range of topics relating to the health, safety and personal care needs of the people they supported. They understood their responsibilities to safeguard people and to report any suspicion of abuse. People told us they felt safe. Recruitment checks were carried out to ensure people received care from suitable staff. Staff received regular and effective support and supervision.
People were supported to hold their own medicines securely. People who required assistance with their medicines were supported by competent staff who followed safe systems of administration.
The quality of peoples’ lives had improved because staff had encouraged and supported them to learn new skills and to gain greater independence. People were involved and consulted about all aspects of their lives and the service they received. Staff understood their role to help protect people's equality, diversity and human rights to support people individual needs. Staff knew each person well and supported them to lead active lives, and to be valued members of the local community. People were supported to gain jobs, participate in local events, and to attend social occasions, clubs and entertainment according to the person’s interests and preferences.
People were supported to keep their homes safe and clean. Staff had the knowledge and equipment needed to follow safe infection control procedures.
Each person had been involved and consulted in drawing up and reviewing a plan of their care needs. People held a copy of their care plans in their rooms. Some documents were drawn up in an accessible format, and the plans had been explained and discussed with each person. The registered manger told us they planned to improve the care plans and other documents to make them easier for staff to read and for people to understand.
The management team were well respected and provided effective leadership. The provider had a range of quality monitoring systems to monitor and improve the service provided. People were asked their views on the service. Comments or complaints were listened to, investigated and actions taken.