About the service Brill House Supporting living service is a supported living service providing personal care to 31 people. 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Overall, people’s care and support was provided safely through risk assessment of people’s needs. Where we identified staff guidance was needed to monitor air-flow mattress specialist equipment ( to help prevent pressure ulcers) , the management team took immediate action to address this. The fire evacuation procedure at one setting was not frequently tested through fire drills to ensure it was effective. The registered manager took action to address this and sought advice from the fire service.
We have made a recommendation about the ongoing management of fire safety.
People who¿were known to experience emotional distress which could put themselves and others at risk had proactive plans in place to reduce the need for restrictive practices. Staff received input from specialists, however the provider did not arrange staff training for positive behaviour support. This is important to make sure all staff had the skills and knowledge to support people effectively. Staff received mandatory and other specific training to meet people’s needs.
We have made a recommendation about staff training for positive behaviour support.
Governance systems monitored the quality and safety of care provided, however, provider audits had not identified the areas we found in relation to safeguarding reporting, fire safety and risk assessments.
We have made a recommendation for the provider to ensure monitoring systems cover all areas of people’s needs and support.
People and relatives told us they felt the service was safe, for instance one relative said, “Yes [it’s safe] because [family member] gets exceptional care. I can’t fault it. The way they are encouraged to speak, take part in activities, to help themselves. It’s every aspect of their life staff help them participate in, and it’s a big marvellous place. I have absolute faith as the staff have been with [family member] for years.” The service had not always reported concerns to the safeguarding authority as required, although we found other appropriate action was taken to protect¿from abuse and poor care. The registered manager reported concerns retrospectively in response to our visit. The¿service had¿enough¿appropriately skilled¿staff to meet¿people’s¿needs and keep them safe. Medicines were managed safely and staff followed infection control and prevention guidance to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
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People received¿kind and compassionate care from staff who protected¿and respected¿their privacy and dignity and understood each person’s individual needs.¿People¿were¿supported to be independent and had control over their own lives and had¿their communication needs met. Staff used Makaton sign language to a high level of skill which empowered people to express themselves and be involved in decisions about their care.
People’s care, treatment and support plans,¿reflected¿their sensory, cognitive and functioning needs.¿ People received¿support that¿met their needs¿and aspirations.¿Support¿focused on¿people’s¿quality of life and¿followed¿best practice.¿Staff regularly evaluated¿the quality of¿support given, involving the person, their families and other professionals¿as appropriate.¿
People, relatives and professionals were positive about the standards of care provided by the service. We found the registered manager fostered an open culture and staff were committed to providing person-centred care.
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.
Right support:
• The model of care and setting maximised people’s choice, control and independence. People lived in a residential estate and had access to local amenities.
Right care:
• Staff understood their role¿in making sure that people were always put first. They provided¿care that was genuinely person centred.¿¿¿
Right culture:
• People lead¿confident, inclusive¿and empowered¿lives because¿of the¿ethos, values,¿attitudes and behaviours¿of the management and staff.
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 2 May 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection for newly registered services.
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.