Archived: St Stephens Road

St Stephens Road is a supported living service providing personal care and support to adults with a variety of needs. This includes learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder and mental health needs. At the time of the inspection two people using the service were receiving the regulated activity 'personal care'. A further three people were using the service but did not receive personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care (tasks related to personal hygiene and eating). Where people receive personal care, we also consider any wider social care provided.

St Stephens Road supported people living in single occupancy flats under their own tenancy agreements, with nine flats located in one building. The service had a small communal seating area, a communal garden and parking facilities. The manager’s office, staff room and staff sleep-in room were located in the same adapted building, they shared the same entrance to the building but had separate door bells.

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

Further to recent changes to the management team, improvements needed at the service were well underway. Improvement in staff culture, staff support, training and supervision was evident and feedback about the service was positive. The areas for improvement we found had previously been identified by the provider and an action plan was in place. The provider was monitoring progress on the action plan through weekly meetings with the service.

People were safe and appeared happy with the service they received. One relative said, “I have been incredibly impressed.” Risks to people had been assessed and support plans were in place to manage known risks. Staff followed people's support plans, for example, in relation to managing anxiety related behaviours. Provider polices were inclusive and person-centred and this approach was mirrored by staff working in the service. People were supported to ensure their accommodation was safe and well maintained. Plans to support people in the event of an emergency were kept updated.

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. People’s views were sought in reviews of their needs and support plans. People were supported to develop life skills including cooking, shopping and managing their emotions. This enabled them to live meaningful lives in the community, including accessing mainstream services and maintaining relationships with others who were important to them

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. Restrictions were reviewed regularly to ensure they remained appropriate and legal requirements had been met. Staff sought consent for care and respected people’s choices and privacy. Where people’s capacity to make more significant decisions needed to be checked, capacity assessments had been arranged.

Referrals to external professionals had been made in response to people’s changing health needs. The manager was working with relatives to support people at appointments when needed and to ensure appropriate information was shared.

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 08/01/2018, this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

St Stephens Road started providing a regulated activity (personal care) in February 2021. Further to this, some concerns about people’s safety and leadership at the service were raised to us. As the service had not been rated since registration, this inspection was carried out to gain assurances about safety and governance at St Stephens Road and to rate the service.

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.