Archived: SeeAbility - Kingston Support Service

Updated 25 September 2021

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

SeeAbility - Kingston Support Service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, 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

This inspection was announced.

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because we needed to be sure the registered manager would be available for us to speak with during our inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since they registered with us. 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager, interim deputy manager and one support worker.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and their medication records. We looked at staff files in relation to training and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us to understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

After the inspection

We spoke with four relatives of people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 25 September 2021

About the service

SeeAbility - Kingston Support Service is a supported living service providing personal care and support for up to five people with a learning disability. At the time of inspection five people were using the service. The service is a large, detached building close to local shops and other amenities. People who used the service have their own bedrooms and had access to communal areas that include a lounge, extended patio/dining room and an enclosed private garden.

People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises used for supported living.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence, and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The supported living service had been developed and designed in line with values that underpin the principles of Registering the Right support, right care, right culture. This enabled people who used the service to live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Sufficient numbers of staff were deployed to deliver care and meet people’s needs although there had been episodes when some shifts had not been covered. Staff told us this increased work pressures but were aware of the provider’s recruitment efforts to resolve the issue.

Risks to people’s health were assessed and managed. People’s care was delivered in a safe manner that protected them from the risk of avoidable harm. Staff understood their responsibility to identify and report abuse.

Staff received training and support to enable them to undertake their roles. People had sufficient food and drink.

People were supported in a kind and compassionate manner. People and their relatives made positive comments about the leadership and the management of the home. They were happy with the quality of care provided. Checks were carried out on the quality of care provided and improvements made when needed.

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.

We were assured the provider was following national guidance on good infection prevention and control protocols in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff followed the measures in place to mitigate risks in relation to COVID-19 pandemic and protect people from the risk of acquiring infections.

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 07/01/2020 and this is the first inspection. The service underwent a change in their registration. The last rating for the service under the previous registration was good, published on 6/11/2018.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection of a newly registered service.