Thera East Midlands, a supported living service for 297 people with a learning disability, was rated Good overall with an Outstanding well-led rating, having been inspected following concerns about medicines management which were not substantiated. The service demonstrated exceptional person-centred culture, governance, and partnership working, with no failure themes identified.
Strengths
· Robust safeguarding systems and processes; people felt safe and confident staff would act on concerns
· Staffing planned around individuals with consistent teams matched by shared interests; relief staff known to people
· Medicines managed safely with monthly audits, competency checks, and commitment to STOMP initiative
· Outstanding partnership working with hospital learning disability liaison nurses, commended by Court of Protection
· People included in board meetings, AGMs, staff recruitment, audits, and strategic decisions as company members
Thera East Midlands, a domiciliary and supported living service in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire for 146 people with learning disabilities, was rated Good across all five key questions at its March/April 2019 inspection. The service demonstrated exceptionally strong leadership, person-centred care planning, and staff engagement, with only minor issues identified around medication labelling and one care plan omitting easy-read information.
Concerns (3)
minorMedication management: “some of the medicines were not dated on opening. One medicine label was incorrect as it stated Lansoprazole to be dissolved on the tongue.”
minorPerson-centred care: “we found in one person's care plan they required information in easy read format and this was not provided.”
minorStaffing levels: “one of the locations we visited identified that there had been a lot of changes in staffing levels and staff moral was low.”
Strengths
· Robust safeguarding systems in place with staff trained and confident in procedures; people and relatives reported feeling safe.
· Person-centred care planning using innovative tools such as iPlanit, communications passports, and Makaton flash cards.
· Strong medicines management with daily MAR audits by staff and monthly audits by management; competency assessments completed.
· Staff received comprehensive induction, Care Certificate training, regular supervision, and specialist training tailored to people supported.
· Exceptional leadership with robust quality monitoring, strong governance framework, and high staff and people engagement via membership strategy.
Quality-Statement breakdown (23)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawGood
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely careGood
effective: Supporting people to live healthier lives, access healthcare services and supportGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to meet people's needs, preferences, interests and give them choice and controlGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportGood
well-led: Planning and promoting person-centred, high-quality care and support with openness; duty of candourGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staff, fully considering their equality characteristicsGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving careGood