Karma Liv-in

Updated 22 June 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 21 and 30 May 2018 and was unannounced on the first day and announced on the second day. It was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the registered provider, including previous notifications and information about any complaints and safeguarding concerns received. A notification is information about important events which the registered provider is required to send to us by law. We also looked at the information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection visit we spoke with two people who used the service, the registered manager, the registered provider and four members of staff. We also looked at two care plans, including people’s risk assessments, and records relating to the management of the service such as staff training records, staff duty rosters, medicine administration record (MAR) sheets and documents in relation to the monitoring of the service. Two of the three people we spoke with could speak only limited English so we spoke to them through two staff members who spoke their language.

After the inspection, we spoke with two relatives over the phone to get their views on the service.

Updated 22 June 2018

This inspection took place on 21 and 30 May 2018. At the last inspection on 9 December 2015, we did not give a rating to the service as there was only one person using it. There was not enough information about the experiences of a sufficient number of people using the service over a consistent period of time to give a rating to each of the five questions and an overall rating for the service.

Karma Liv-in is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service provides accommodation and support with personal care for up to five adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs and/or physical disabilities. At the time of our visit, there were three people using the service.

There was a registered manager in place. 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 spoke positively about the care and support they received and felt safe using the service. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding and knew how to identify and raise safeguarding concerns to keep people safe. Risks associated with people's care and support had been assessed.

The provider had robust staff recruitment procedures which ensured that staff had the appropriate skills and experience for the role. People were supported by enough staff to meet their individual needs and wishes.

People were supported to take their medicines safely. There was a policy and procedure about safe administration of medicines. Staff had been trained to administer medicines in a safe manner.

Staff were supported to maintain and develop their skills through training and development opportunities. They had regular contact with the registered manager to discuss any issues or concerns they might have relating to people's care and support.

The provider had policies and procedures in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and staff understood when an application should be made, and how to submit one. Before people received any care or support they were routinely asked for their consent.

People were involved in the assessment and planning of their care and support. Each person had a care plan outlining how they needed support and how they liked to be helped. Referrals were made to health care professionals for additional support or guidance if people’s health changed.

People were supported with their meals to ensure they received food and drinks they liked to help keep them as healthy as possible. They were treated with dignity and respect and staff were kind and respectful to them.

Staff supported people to maintain their independence where possible. People were able to make choices about their care and their views were taken into account. Staff understood the need to respect people's privacy.

There was an open culture within the service, which was focussed on people. Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and had access to policies and procedures to inform and guide them.

Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service and action was taken when it was identified that improvements were required. There was a system in place to tell people and their representatives on how to make a complaint.