Independent Living Services achieved an overall Good rating at its April 2019 inspection, with an Outstanding rating for Caring due to innovative, person-centred approaches that produced measurable improvements in wellbeing and independence for people with learning disabilities and autism. No regulatory breaches or failure themes were identified across any of the five key questions.
Strengths
· Staff demonstrated exceptional empathy and innovative approaches to reducing anxiety and emotional distress in people with learning disabilities and autism.
· People achieved significant improvements in independence, including reductions in care hours, gaining employment, and re-engaging with community activities.
· Medicines were handled safely with trained and competency-assessed staff and up-to-date administration records.
· Staff received mandatory and specialist training, regular supervision at least four times a year, and annual appraisals.
· People were actively involved in staff recruitment through interviewer skills sessions and had meaningful input into their care plans.
Quality-Statement breakdown (24)
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 live healthier lives, access healthcare services and supportGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely careGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supportedOutstanding
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careOutstanding
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independence; respecting equality and diversityOutstanding
responsive: Supporting people to develop and maintain relationships to avoid social isolationGood
responsive: Support to follow interests and to take part in activities that are socially and culturally relevant to themGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferencesGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
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, and 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
Independent Living Services received a Good rating across all five key questions at its first inspection following registration in December 2015. One critical gap was identified regarding unlawful deprivation of liberty for 12 supported living residents, though the registered manager took immediate remedial action during the inspection.
Concerns (3)
criticalConsent / capacity: “The registered manager was not aware that applications to the Court of Protection were necessary in some cases... 12 of the people they support were potentially being deprived of their liberty.”
minorStaff training: “At the time of our inspection staff were not being provided with ASD training... a relative told us they felt staff would benefit from training in autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).”
minorSupervision / appraisal: “The service aimed to provide staff with one to one meetings (supervision) every six weeks with their managers. Some were overdue but meetings had been scheduled.”
Strengths
· People were protected from risks of abuse and staff had a good understanding of safeguarding responsibilities.
· Robust recruitment processes ensured staff suitability before working with people.
· Sufficient staffing levels with consistent, familiar staff used to cover sickness and annual leave.
· Medicines were handled safely with trained and competency-assessed staff only administering medicines.
· Staff were well trained and followed the Care Certificate induction standards.