Creative Support - Durham Services

This service provides care and support to fifteen people living in four 'supported living' settings, so that they can live in their own home 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 service had 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. Each supported living setting had a project manager in place.

At the last inspection in December 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Risk assessments were in place with full information on steps that should be taken to reduce the risks.

Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and the registered manager understood their responsibilities to identify and report any concerns. Safe recruitment processes were followed to ensure only suitable people were employed. The services did have a shortage of staff and the provider was in the process of trying to employ more staff. Agency staff were being used in the meantime. Staff raised concerns about the shortage of staff and having to work long hours to cover this. This was looked into by the service director.

Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed. We have made a recommendation about the management of when required medicines.

People accessed health and social care professionals. People benefited from strong, caring relationships with staff that treated them with dignity and respect.

People received effective care from staff that had the skills and knowledge to support them. We have made a recommendation about training.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Policies and systems in the service support this practice. Consent to care and treatment was clearly documented and appropriate authorisations were in place when people lacked capacity to make decisions.

Activities were developed around people's interests. People were supported to maintain relationships and access the local community.

Effective management systems were in place to monitor the quality of care provided and to promote people's safety and welfare. Staff did not feel supported by the management team and stated morale was low.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found