Hansel Supported Living Services, a housing support service based at Broadmeadows, Kilmarnock Road, Symington, has been rated 'very good' by the Care Inspectorate following an unannounced inspection in June.
The service was graded 'very good' for supporting people's wellbeing and 'good' for leadership. The Care Inspectorate's findings have now been published.
Care and support praised
The report said people experienced “very good care and support” from “energetic, committed and person-centred” staff and management. Care and support was “compassionate, sensitive, and responsive” to people’s needs and wishes, meaning people were able to “achieve outcomes” to improve their life.
An “imaginative and wide-ranging” programme of group activities and social events meant that people could experience being part of a community. Throughout a “challenging period” for staff recruitment, management and staff had been “committed” to ensuring people’s positive experience of care and support was unaltered.
Management and staffing
“Forward-thinking and creative management” had developed and implemented plans to sustain person-centred services for people. However, the report highlights that recruitment and retention of staff had “challenged” staffing levels, but the service’s development plan had created a “clear process” to address the staffing issue in the longer term.
An extract from the report states: “We found significant strengths in aspects of the care provided and how this supported positive outcomes for people. We observed warm and caring interactions between people and staff. People were comfortable with the staff supporting them.”
Service details
Hansel Supported Living Services is registered to provide housing support and care at home to adults with learning disabilities and/or acquired brain injury living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection, the service supported 53 people. Individuals’ support ranged from a few hours per week to 24 hours a day.
The report also reveals how staff “worked hard” to encourage people to engage with others and to help them to express their views. They also brought an “energy” to the support and a knowledge of the person’s preferred means of communication that promoted their engagement and participation. An informed staff team “knew people well,” which meant people could be supported according to their needs and preferences.
