Crown Mews

Updated 8 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

This 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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 19 July 2019 and ended on 24 July 2019. We visited the office location on both dates.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it had registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us on 06 March 2019 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 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, deputy manager and two support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervisions. 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. We looked at training information sent to us on request from the registered manager.

Updated 8 August 2019

About the service

6 Crown Mews is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care in a supported living setting, to two younger people including a child aged between 13 to 18 years at the time of the inspection. The supported living set up currently consists of three terrace houses that have both individual and communal facilities for people to use. One of the houses, number six, also has an office from which the agency is run from.

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.

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

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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.

People felt reassured by having their care provided by staff at the service. Individualised risk assessments were in place to identify possible risks to people. Information was available for staff to refer to on how to reduce these risks to people. Staff worked in conjunction with guidance from external health care professionals across different organisations to help support people’s well-being.

Staffing levels were looked at to make sure they met the needs of the people using the service, who required one-to-one support at the service and within the community. Medicines were safely managed by trained staff.

To develop their skills and knowledge, staff received training, competency checks, supervisions and appraisals. People were supported to maintain their independence where appropriate. Staff promoted people’s food and drink intake.

Staff maintained people’s privacy and dignity. Staff knew the people they supported well. People had developed good relationships with staff who had an understanding of their individual care and support needs and wishes.

People said staff were kind. People`s personal information was kept confidential in the services office. People where possible were involved in discussions about their care. Concerns or suggestions raised were listened to and the concern resolved where possible.

Staff felt well-supported. Audits were carried out to monitor the service and address any improvements required. The findings from the quality monitoring of the service were fed back to the organisations board. The registered manager notified the CQC of incidents that they were legally obliged to.

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 20 July 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection as the service had yet to be rated since it registered with the CQC on 20 July 2018.

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.