Creative Support - Thistley Green

Updated 30 April 2020

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 team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so 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 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

The inspection was announced. 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.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, service director, senior care workers and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three 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

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We sought feedback from five professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 30 April 2020

About the service

Creative Support Thistley Green Intensive Support is registered to provide personal care to people living in supported living accommodation. The service was started under the Transforming Care programme with the aim of providing housing for adults with mental health or learning disability and complex behavioural needs. The Transforming Care programme aims to improve care and support in the community for people with a learning disability and/or autism. Support is provided in 10 flats. At the time of the inspection 6 people were receiving support.

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 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 had truly transformed the lives of the people they supported. Prior to joining the service many people had lived in institutions for several years. Staff supported people to rehabilitate and maximise their emotional and physical potential through a collaborative and supportive approach to care. This enabled people to work towards attaining individual goals and personal aspirations.

The provider was committed to ensuring the service provided person-centred care. This ensured people received care and support from staff who were dedicated to providing exceptional outcomes for them. Both the director and the registered manager were highly visible and approachable in the service for people, relatives and staff. The service had a clear vision for what it wanted to achieve and a detailed strategy to turn it into action, developed with all relevant stakeholders.

People were at the heart of the service and were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. 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's views were extremely valued and used to drive improvement.

Staff had completed a high level of training which provided them with the expertise to assess, monitor and support people with their complex needs. Staff had built extremely effective working relationships with other health and social care professionals involved in people's care to ensure they received a high level of care and support. Staff felt respected, valued and supported by the leadership.

Care assessment and planning records were detailed to enable close monitoring of peoples' care, progress and future planning. Risks in people's daily lives were assessed and mitigated with a focus on positive risk taking. Staff were provided with safeguarding training and understood how to keep people safe.

Safe staff recruitment procedures were in place. Staff recruitment processes were designed to meet people’s individual needs. Where able people were involved in the interviewing staff. There were sufficient staff numbers and flexibility to provide the care and support required by people to meet their individual needs.

Medicines were safely managed and effective infection control and complaints procedures were in place.

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.

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 17th January 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned 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.