Creative Support Wigan Ltd provides a supported living service to 26 people with learning disabilities in nine properties, which varied in size and included single person tenancies and shared properties for up to four tenants.

The 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.

There was a registered manager in post. 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. The registered manager is currently off work temporarily, their role has been covered by another registered manager from within the organisation. Staff we spoke with reported this had been effective and they felt they had enough support from the management team.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People continued to be protected from the risk of harm and abuse. The service had clear safeguarding policies and procedures in place which had been followed when required. Staff knew how to recognise and raise any concerns.

Risk assessments identified the support people needed to manage the specific risks in their daily lives. Though some of the paperwork could have been clearer to follow, everything had been considered. The service continued to consider the impact on people's liberty and rights when supporting them to manage risks.

Staffing had been maintained at a safe level. The service reviewed the level of staffing regularly in response to changes in people's needs.

Medicines continued to be managed safely.

Emergency plans were in place and ensured staff knew how to respond to events including fires. Everyone living in the service had a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan. (PEEP)

Infection control policies continued to protect people from the risk of infection and cross contamination.

Assessments identified people's needs prior to admission to the service. This ensured the service could be confident they were able to meet people's needs.

Staff training remained up to date which ensured staff had the appropriate skills and knowledge to support people effectively.

People continued to receive support with their nutrition and hydration. Advice and guidance from related professionals had been included in the support plans.

In addition to information about health needs and diagnoses people had hospital passports and health action plans, which ensured they were supported effectively should they need to access health services.

The two properties we visited had been adapted to ensure they were accessible. Further development had been undertaken to respond to the specific needs of individuals. Eg, sensory area in one of the properties.

The service continued to work within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS). Staff understood the importance of achieving consent prior to providing care and support.

Staff were observed to interact with people and each other in kind and caring ways. The service had clear values in relation to supporting people to maintain their privacy, dignity and respect. Staff were skilled in ensuring these were achieved.

Communication guides were detailed and ens

We carried out a comprehensive inspection of this service on 06 January 2016. Creative Support – Wigan Service is coordinated from business premise in Leigh town centre. The service specialises in providing personal care and support to people living with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection, 23 people who used the service were living in eight supported houses dispersed across the Wigan borough. Housing management was provided by a registered social housing landlord.

We last inspected this location on 14 January 2014 and found the service to be compliant with all regulations we assessed at that time.

At the time of our inspection visit there was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

The service had appropriate systems and procedures in place which sought to protect people who used the service from abuse. The service maintained a corporate safeguarding policy and associated procedures which were complimented by ‘easy read’ safeguarding documentation with pictorial representations. This meant people who used the service were able to access safeguarding information in a format which was accessible and easy to understand.

We looked at recruitment and selection procedures and found safe recruitment practices were in place. This was evidenced through our examination of employment application forms, job descriptions, people’s proof of identity, two written references, and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. These helped ensure potential employees were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

Accidents and incidents were recorded and monitored appropriately. Where necessary, we found preventative measures had been put in place to minimise identified risks. A variety of individual risk assessments had been

Health and safety records relating to buildings and premises were complete and up to date. Fire equipment was maintained and checked monthly and weekly fire alarm tests and means of escape were undertaken. Emergency lighting was checked monthly, as was the first aid kit. Fire drills were undertaken on a six monthly basis. Gas certificates were up to date in each of the properties we visited. The service had a business continuity plan to be implemented in the event of an emergency such as flood, fire or loss of power. This included guidance for staff and emergency contact numbers.

Financial management records were maintained for each of the supported houses and we found these to be up to date. External audits of financial records were also completed on a regular basis

Medicines were stored, administered, recorded and disposed of safely and correctly. Staff were trained in the safe administration of medicines and kept relevant records that were accurate Medicines were checked according to need. Some individuals were able to self-medicate and their medicines were checked on a weekly basis. Others were checked daily, as administered.

People’s care plans included a range of up to date and relevant health and personal information. Risk assessments were complete and up to date. A holistic assessment was in place for each individual. A hospital passport was included in each file, which contained health and other relevant information to help provide consistency of care.

The induction programme was robust and included mandatory training, orientation and direct observations of practice before new employees were deemed competent to work alone. New workers were given an employee handbook and information on policies and procedures and health and safety. There was a probation period with regular reviews and supervisors were re

We visited Creative Support – Wigan Service on 14th January 2014. During this review we visited the agency’s office in Leigh and spoke with the area manager and a supported living coordinator.

We also spoke with three support staff, two people using the service and three relatives on the telephone. Likewise, we visited a supported living property and spoke with two staff, two relatives and three people who lived there.

People using the service provided by Creative Support – Wigan Service confirmed that they were treated with respect and their dignity was maintained. People also spoken with reported that they were happy with the standard of care provided and confirmed that their needs were met.

Comments received from people using the service included: “I like living here”; “I’m very happy and the staff are lovely”; “I am looked after and I prefer it to where I used to live as I don’t get lonely anymore”; “I couldn’t get better care anywhere”; It’s a brilliant place where I live” and “The staff are perfect angels.”

Likewise, comments received from relatives included: “The standard of care is excellent”; “The staff deal with issues promptly” and "We are very happy with everything.”

We visited Creative Support on 10 January 2013. We looked at care records for four people and saw that they contained relevant and up to date information. We saw that records were individual and personalised and contained evidence of the individual’s involvement with their service delivery.

We spoke with five people who used the service. One person told us “They look after us great, they ask what we think.” All felt they were supported to be as independent as possible and were positive about staff attitudes and their care delivery. We spoke with the relative of one person who used the service. They told us "I've not a bad word to say about them, this really is a care company."

We looked at policies and procedures and saw that all relevant ones were in place. We saw evidence that people who used the service were safeguarded from the risk of abuse and that safeguarding concerns were followed up appropriately.

We saw evidence of robust recruitment procedures and that efforts were made to ensure that staff were equipped with knowledge and information needed in order to deliver care safely and appropriately. We saw that training and development of staff was ongoing.

We saw that there were systems in place to allow the people who used the service to be involved in all aspects of the service and they were encouraged to give feedback about their care delivery. Continual monitoring of the service was undertaken to facilitate ongoing improvement.