Archived: Somerset LD Services 1

Updated 6 December 2016

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.

This inspection took place on 3 and 4 November 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 24 hours' notice because the location provides personal care and a supported living service for adults who live in their own homes, and who are often out during the day. We needed to make sure the registered manager was available to meet us. We asked them to make arrangements for us to visit people in their own homes. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

During the inspection we met with the registered manager. We also visited two supported accommodation complexes which provided flats and shared housing for 20 people. We spoke with, or observed staff interacting with, 11 people during our inspection. We spoke with nine staff and one relative. We also contacted nine health and social care professionals to seek their views on the service.

During the inspection we looked at a range of records the provider is required to maintain. These included service user support plans, medicine administration records, staff rotas, staff recruitment files, staff training records, meal planning records, and quality monitoring records. We also looked at records of accidents, incidents, compliments and complaints and safeguarding investigations.

Updated 6 December 2016

This inspection took place on 3 and 4 November 2016 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice because we wanted to meet the registered manager and needed to be certain they would be available during the inspection. This also gave the registered manager sufficient time to ask some people if they would be willing for us to visit and speak with them in their homes. The service was previously inspected on 3, 4 and 5 December 2013 when we found the service was fully compliant with all regulations covered in the inspection. During this inspection we found no breaches of regulations and we found people received a good service.

Somerset LD Services 1 specialises in providing supported living and domiciliary care services to adults who have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. The agency provides supported accommodation services in Frome and Shepton Mallet. They also provide a domiciliary care service to people living in a range of settings across Somerset. This part of the service was recently inspected during inspections of Somerset LD Services 3 and Somerset LD Services 5. Therefore we did not cover the domiciliary care part of the service during this inspection.

During this inspection we visited people living in supported living complexes in Frome and Shepton Mallet. Their accommodation was provided by separate housing providers or landlords, usually on a rental or lease arrangement. The housing services are not regulated or inspected by CQC. People could choose an alternative support service provider if they wished while continuing to remain in their current accommodation.

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 staff were kind and caring and they felt the staff supported them to remain as safe as possible. A relative praised the staff and said they were confident people were safe from harm or abuse. They told us “The staff are all caring. Never a harsh word said to anyone.”

Staff had received training on safeguarding adults and knew how to identify and report any suspicion of abuse. .

People received reliable and consistent support from a stable and well trained staff team. Each supported housing complex had a team of staff based there. People could choose the staff they wanted to support them. They had been consulted and involved, as far as they were able, to draw up and agree a plan of their support needs. Each person either held, or had access to their support plans and records of their health and personal care needs. Staff were expected to read the support plans and provide support in accordance with the person's wishes. People told us there were enough staff employed to meet their needs.

People had access to a range of health professionals. Where people's health needs had changed, staff worked closely with other health professionals to ensure they received support to meet their needs. Each person was supported by staff to receive regular health check-ups and treatment from doctors and health professionals. Staff knew how to identify potential health problems and supported people to seek medical attention promptly.

Each person received support to help them manage their medicines safely. Staff had received training and support to ensure they followed safe practice when administering medicines. Records of medicines administered had been well maintained.

People were supported by staff who had received a range of training that provided them with the knowledge and skills to meet each person's health and personal care needs effectively. Staff received regular supervision and support. They were positive and enthusiastic and told us they enjoyed their jobs. Comments from staff included “We’ve got such a good team,” and “I think it runs very smoothly. We know what we are doing. Everyone is very helpful.”

Where people lacked the mental capacity to make certain decisions the service ensured their human rights were protected. All of the interactions we observed between people who used the service and the staff were friendly and caring. Staff sought people's consent before providing support. People were offered choices on all aspects of their daily routines.

People led active lives. Staff had supported each person to help them identify and plan the activities they wanted to participate in each week. People were supported to participate in activities in their local communities, including work, education and leisure activities. They went on group or individual outings and also enjoyed a range of activities in their own homes. We heard about parties, outings and holidays. People were also supported to keep in touch with friends and families.

The service was well led. The provider had an effective quality monitoring system to ensure standards of service were maintained and improved. People were involved and consulted about all aspects of the service. A social care professional told us “My experience of this (service) is nothing but positive. The staff are professional, experienced and provide exceptional support to customers.”