Supported Living Quality Assurance
Supported living services face unique regulatory challenges: balancing individual autonomy with duty of care, managing dispersed locations and evidencing person-centred outcomes. CQC inspects supported living under the same Single Assessment Framework as care homes but expects evidence tailored to community-based settings. This guide covers the quality assurance framework, audit methodology and outcome metrics specific to supported living.
Supported Living CQC Quality Framework
CQC expects supported living providers to demonstrate that people have maximum choice and control over their daily lives. Quality assurance must evidence individual outcomes, not just process compliance. The key differentiator from residential care is proving that support enables independence.
Critical Audit Checkpoints
- Person-centred support plans reviewed at minimum 6-monthly intervals with individual involvement evidenced
- Outcome measurement: independence goals, community participation, skill development tracking
- Tenancy rights protection: clear separation between care and housing agreements documented
- Positive behaviour support (PBS) plans replacing restrictive interventions, with reduction targets
- DoLS/LPS: Deprivation of Liberty applications tracked, authorisation status current
- Staff consistency: key worker allocation, continuity metrics, relationship-based practice evidence
Audit Checkpoints for Supported Living
Dispersed supported living services require a different audit approach to single-site care homes. Providers typically audit a sample of tenancies quarterly, with full portfolio coverage annually. High-risk indicators (safeguarding, medication incidents, complaints) trigger priority audits.
Critical Audit Checkpoints
- Sample-based auditing: minimum 25% of tenancies reviewed per quarter
- Medication auditing: MAR accuracy, PRN protocols, covert medication authorisation documented
- Financial safeguarding: client money records, appointeeship/deputyship evidence, spending audits
- Activity and community access: evidenced with outcomes, not just participation counts
- Night support audits: staffing levels, response times, sleep-in vs waking night risk assessments
Frequently Asked Questions
How does CQC inspect supported living differently to care homes?
CQC inspects supported living with greater emphasis on individual choice, tenancy rights, community participation and independence outcomes. Evidence must show support enables people to live their chosen life, not that the service controls daily routines.
What is person-centred auditing in supported living?
Person-centred auditing evaluates whether support plans reflect individual preferences, goals and communication needs. It measures outcomes (did the person achieve their goal?) rather than process compliance (was the form completed?).
How often should supported living services conduct quality audits?
Best practice is monthly thematic audits (e.g., medication one month, safeguarding the next) with comprehensive full audits quarterly. Sample 25% of tenancies per quarter to achieve full annual coverage.
Further Reading
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