Lulus

Updated 24 February 2022

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 15 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 24 February 2022

About the service

Lulus is a respite service providing accommodation and personal care to two younger adults at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to three people.

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

We found staff had not completed all of the training set by the provider. Our observations and discussions with staff assured us they had the skills and knowledge to support people with their care needs. We were told training had been sourced for staff who had not completed all of their training.

Quality checks were in place to monitor and assess the quality of service being delivered but these did not identify staff had not completed all of their training. Audits of other areas of the service identified shortfalls in the service and remedial action was taken in relation to this.

We made a recommendation to implement systems to maintain oversight of staff training.

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.

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.

Risks relating to people’s individual needs had been identified and planned for. Staff had received training in safeguarding people from abuse and understood how to report any concerns. There were consistently enough staff to meet people’s needs and there were safe recruitment practices in place.

People’s medicines were managed in a safe way by staff who had been trained to administer medicines.

Environmental risks had been identified and there were plans in place to mitigate known risks. There was regular servicing of gas and electrical appliances and fire-fighting equipment.

The service was clean throughout and staff observed good practice in relation to infection control.

Staff worked collaboratively with people’s wider care team to ensure people received consistent care appropriate to their needs. People were supported to maintain a healthy nutritional intake.

People received individualised care from staff who understood their needs. Care plans were person-centred and detailed how to involve people in making choices about their care. Staff communicated with people according to their needs using a variety of methods.

There was clear and visible leadership in place and the service promoted a person-centred culture. People, their relatives and staff were involved in contributing ideas and feedback about the service and how it could improve.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection.

This service was registered with us on 23/08/2018 and this is the first inspection.

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.