Outreach Teeside

Not everyone using Outreach Teeside received a regulated activity. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspected the services being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene, nutrition and medicines.15 people were being supported with their personal care by the service at the time of this inspection. Seven people were living in their own homes with their families and eight people were living in 'supported living' settings so that they can live as independently as possible. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support.

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

We rated the service as good at its last inspection. 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.

A registered manager was in post. Positive feedback was received about the leadership and management of the service. Staff received the training and support they required to be effective in their roles. Sufficient staff were employed to meet people's needs. Recruitment policies minimised the risk of unsuitable staff being employed.

Risks to people were assessed along with the actions staff should take to reduce the risks identified. Staff knew how to safeguard vulnerable adults and were aware of the action they should take if they had any concerns. Medicines were managed safely. However, improvements could be made to how recordings were made on medicine administration records to make records easier to read. People living in supported living houses were encouraged to carry out their own health and safety checks.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. However, some additional work was required in the recording of best interest decisions where people were unable to make their own decisions. Staff supported people to maintain their health and access healthcare services when needed.

People's independence was promoted. People accessed a range of community and leisure facilities. Staff respected people's rights and maintained their privacy. Relatives and people told us staff were caring. Support was planned and delivered based upon people's support needs and preferences. Staff knew the people they were supporting very well.

People and their relatives told us they knew how to complain if it was needed. A governance system was in place to monitor the quality of the service. However, information regarding the actions that had been taken following issues been identified within audits was sometimes difficult to locate. The registered manager told us they were aware that this was an area that required further development.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found