Archived: Lifeways Community Care (Taunton)

Updated 9 October 2019

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in 17 ‘supported living’ settings, 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.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service. This includes the

statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about incidents and events that occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We also contacted the local authority and four professionals who work with the service.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection-

We spoke with six people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manger and two service managers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care plans and two people’s medicine records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures reviewed.

After the inspection –

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and a number of quality assurance records.

Updated 9 October 2019

About the service

Lifeways Community Care Taunton is registered for the provision of personal care in people's own homes. This includes support with personal care, such as assistance with bathing, dressing, eating and medicines. We call this type of service a 'supported living' service. 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 the inspection 25 people were receiving a service over 17 different locations.

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

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People had good community networks which were personal to them. This included work opportunities, day service and supporting people to use technology to connect with family and friends. People had been supported to develop and maintain positive relationships with friends and family. Equality, Diversity and Human Rights (EDHR) were promoted and understood by staff.

A recruitment drive was taking place at the time of the inspection. A number of staff had left the service. The registered manager told us they were addressing the current vacancies and filling gaps with regular agency staff. Staff told us although a number of staff had left this has improved the culture of the service. Following risks identified where people may not have the correct staff in place action had been taken to ensure a core member of staff was on duty to cover any gaps.

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.

People's rights to make their own decisions was respected. People were supported to access healthcare services if needed. Staff had appropriate skills and knowledge to deliver care and support in a person-centred way. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink.

Staff were well trained and skilled. They worked with people to overcome challenges and promote their independence. The emphasis of support was towards enabling people to learn essential life skills. Staff encouraged positive risk taking so people could experience new things and develop.

People received personalised support based on assessed needs and preferences. Staff knew how to support people in the way that they preferred. People knew how to complain if they needed to.

People received support to take their medicines safely. Risks to people's well-being and their home environment were recorded and updated when their circumstances changed. Where errors occurred, the service learnt lessons.

The service was managed by a registered manager who had a clear vision about the quality of care they wanted to provide. Staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities. A range of quality assurance checks were carried out to monitor and improve standards. We received positive feedback regarding the leadership and management of the service.

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

The last rating for this service was Good ( published 08 December 2018.)

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about staffing, medicine errors and the culture of the service. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concern. Please see the safe domain section of this full report.

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