Background to this inspection
Updated
3 July 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 two ‘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 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 12 June and ended on 18 June 2019. We visited the office location on 12 and 13 June 2019.
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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We met with the four people who used the service and made observations of their interactions with staff. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, senior care workers, care workers and the administration staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at four 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
Following the inspection, we spoke with four people’s relatives about their experience of the care provided. We requested feedback from five professionals who visited the service.
Updated
3 July 2019
About the service
NAS Community Services (Somerset) provides personal care and support to four people living in two ‘supported living’ settings. 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 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People’s relatives told us they thought their family members were safe. There were systems in place to protect people from potential abuse. Staff felt confident to raise any concerns with the registered manager. Staff supported people to manage their medicines safety.
There were enough staff available to support people’s needs and staff were recruited safely. Risks to people were identified and guidance was in place for staff to reduce the identified risks. People had detailed plans in place for staff to follow if they became anxious, the service demonstrated there had been a decrease of incidents of this nature. Incidents were analysed, and lessons were learnt to prevent further incidents.
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. Where restrictions were in place to protect people’s safety and wellbeing, appropriate action had been taken to demonstrate the restrictions were in the person’s best interest.
Staff received regular one to one supervision and told us they felt supported. Staff received a range of training to meet the needs of the people they supported.
People were supported to attend health appointments and encouraged to lead healthy lives.
People were supported by caring staff who worked towards promoting their independence. People’s relatives told us the staff team were "Amazing" and “Enthusiastic.”
Staff were aware of people's routines and preferences, and they used this information to develop positive relationships and deliver person centred care. Relatives told us core staff knew their family members well.
Relatives felt able to raise concerns with the registered manager or staff and were confident they would be responded to.
People’s relatives, staff and visiting professionals spoke highly of the registered manager and management team. There were effective systems in place to monitor the service and drive improvement.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update: The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published June 2018). At out last inspection we found three breaches of regulations. Following the last inspection, we imposed conditions on the providers registration that required them to send us a monthly report and action plan. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for NAS Community Services (Somerset) on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.