First inspection of New Leaf Supported Living Ltd, a small supported living service for people with learning disabilities and/or autism, rated Good across all five key questions. Minor development areas were noted around record keeping, recruitment documentation, MCA assessment detail, end of life planning, and quality monitoring systems.
Concerns (6)
minor
Record keeping
— “Further development of the provider's record keeping was needed across the service to demonstrate that the actions the managers had taken such as exploration of staff backgrounds during the recruitment processes.”
minorStaff competency — “the registered manager would benefit from documenting their decisions to employ staff when there was limited information about the applicant.”
minorConsent / capacity — “More detailed records of the provider assessment and the outcome of their assessment of specific decisions, would help demonstrate that people were assessed and supported in line with the MCA principles.”
minorEnd-of-life care — “The registered manager acknowledged this was an area that needed further development to ensure people's end of life care wishes and preferences were known by key people”
minorCultural competency — “The provider acknowledged that they need to expand and consider all the protected characteristics (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) as part of their assessment.”
minorGovernance — “The provider was aware of the need to expand their quality monitoring systems to effectively monitor and record their quality assurance processes as the service develops and expands.”
Strengths
· Care focused around people's needs and preferences with dedicated staff and managers
· Consistent, established staff team who knew people well, avoiding reliance on agency staff
· Safe medicines management including awareness of STOMP principles
· Strong safeguarding awareness with all incidents investigated and lessons shared
· Effective collaboration with families and external healthcare professionals
Quality-Statement breakdown (23)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawGood
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies; supporting people to live healthier lives, access healthcare services and supportGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and controlGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candourGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving care; working in partnership with othersGood