About the service:

This service provides care and support to people with learning disabilities who reside in supported living settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. At the time of our inspection 17 people were receiving personal care from Bethphage 3.

People’s experience of using this service:

People were protected from the risk of abuse and avoidable harm because staff had been safely recruited and they knew how to recognise and report abuse. Safe staffing levels were maintained and staff understood how to manage the risks associated with care, including the risks associated with medicines and infection.

Staff had the knowledge and skills required to provide effective care. Care records guided staff in how to meet people’s health, wellbeing and nutritional needs.

Effective systems were in place that ensured people’s consent to care was gained. Where people were unable to consent to their care, the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were followed to ensure decisions were made in people’s best interests.

People were supported by caring staff who supported people to communicate their needs and wishes. This empowered people to make decisions about their care. Staff promoted people’s rights to privacy, dignity and independence.

People were involved in the planning and review of their care and care and support was delivered in line with people’s individual preferences.

Effective systems were in place to ensure lessons were learned from incidents and complaints. Regular checks were made to assess and monitor the quality of care and action was taken when needed to drive improvements to the quality of care.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The service met the characteristics of Good in all areas; more information is available in the full report below.

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection, the service was rated good. The report for the service’s last inspection was published on 5 April 2016.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the service’s previous rating and was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people received safe, high quality care. Further inspections will be planned for future dates.

This inspection took place on 18 and 19 February 2016 and was announced.

Bethphage 3 is a domiciliary care provider. They provide personal care to people with learning disabilities in their own homes. At the time of our inspection 18 people were receiving support from Bethphage 3.

A registered manager was in post and was present during our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff had been trained and understood how to support people in a way that protected them from danger, harm and abuse.

There were enough staff to support people and to meet their needs. People had control of their support hours and could change the times of support to meet their needs. The provider had systems in place to adapt to the changing needs of people and to make provision for additional staffing when required. Before staff could start work the provider undertook checks to ensure they were safe to work with people.

The provider helped people to administer their own medicines. When people could not administer their own medicines they were supported by staff. Staff were trained to safely administer medicines. The provider undertook checks to ensure people and staff were following safe procedures when administering medicines.

Staff had the skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs. They were supported in their roles by the provider and attended training that was relevant to the people they supported.

People were involved in decisions about their day to day care. When people could not make their own decisions these were made on their behalf. Decisions were made in their best interests by people who knew them to make sure their rights were protected. Staff provided care and support which was personalised and respected people’s likes and dislikes.

People were supported by staff who knew them well and had good relationships with them. Staff made sure people were involved in their own care and that information was given to them in a way they could understand. People’s independence was encouraged and staff respected their privacy and dignity.

People had a choice of food to eat and were prompted to maintain a healthy balanced diet. People’s routine health needs were looked after and people had access to healthcare when they needed it.

People and staff felt able to express their views and felt their opinions mattered. The provider and registered manager undertook regular quality checks and people were able to comment on the services they received. The provider employed people receiving support to undertake quality checks of the services they provided. When needed improvements were made. Staff were supported by the provider and the registered manager who promoted an open and transparent culture.