Xcel Homes Ltd

We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

This is the first inspection for this service.

This inspection identified that the provider was in breach of 1 legal regulation relating to good governance.We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

The provider’s governance systems, processes, and procedures for assessing risks, and monitoring quality and safety and oversight were not fully effective. Systems for learning from incidents and embedding improvements were not in place.

Guidance for staff about how to manage and mitigate people’s known risks, and how to meet people’s care needs, was found to be incomplete or lacking in detail in some areas. However, the inspection concluded that this was primarily a recording and documentation issue, rather than a failure in practice.

People were supported by a stable and consistent staff team who knew them. From speaking with staff, we found them to be experienced, knowledgeable and competent. Conversations with staff showed they understood people’s needs and risks well.

People were supported by staff who had been recruited safely, with appropriate pre-employment checks in place. There were enough staff to meet people’s care needs consistently and safely.

The management team was in the process of increasing the frequency of staff supervision and support, giving staff more regular opportunities to reflect on their practice. Staff also received ongoing refresher training to maintain and update their skills.

Staff told us they felt well supported. Weekly staff meetings, along with other communication channels, helped ensure the team remained informed about any changes to people’s care needs and provided a space to discuss concerns and identify improvements.