Your Life (Guildford)

Updated 28 August 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 one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in specialist housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is bought or rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing. This inspection looked at people’s personal care service.

At the time of inspection only 3 people were receiving a personal care service, one of whom was in hospital.

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 number of people receiving the service was small and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We also reviewed any information we held about the service and the registered provider. This included notifications that the service had told us about. Statutory notifications are information that the service is legally required to tell us about and includes significant events such as accidents, injuries and safeguarding incidents and investigations. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff, including the registered manager and regional manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and any medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 28 August 2019

About the service

Your Life provides regulated personal care and domestic help for older people who live at The Clockhouse in Guildford. The Clockhouse operates as a single housing community, with facilities on site. There are 44 apartments for people aged over 70 years.

CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. At the time of inspection, two people who lived at The Clockhouse were receiving a personal care service. We also considered any wider social care provided to others living in this housing for older people.

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

People received safe care and were protected from the risk of abuse. There were enough staff on hand to deliver safe care for people, and there was availability of back up care if required as the service grew. People’s medicines were administered safely and correctly, and staff protected people from the risk of infection in their practice.

People’s health and wellbeing was promoted. They were supported to stay active and access health services when needed. Staff provided consistent care and support. Those who needed help with their nutrition had support with their meals. There was an onsite restaurant available and people were enabled to use this if they wished. People were asked for their consent to any care being given.

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. Policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported by kind and caring staff. They experienced dignified care and privacy in their own apartments. People’s independence was respected and promoted by staff and through the care arrangements.

People’s individual needs were known and documented to support the provision of personalised care. This included their wishes for when they became unwell or at the end of their life. There were options on site for social groups and relevant activities that people enjoyed. People knew how to complain should it become necessary.

The care and support service were integrated within the housing community and people said it was, “Well managed.” Although the personal care delivery was currently a small part of the service, the key foundations for growth were in place. There was a quality assurance system for monitoring the personal care. The provider had governance arrangements to oversee the delivery of care as the service grew. The registered manager was well thought of and had plans to develop the care delivery and improve the quality of life for people living at The Clockhouse.

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 14/06/2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the requirement to inspect news services within one year or registration.