Autism Together - 32 York Street

Updated 3 December 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Autism Together - 32 York Street is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We observed the support being provided for the people living in the home. We spoke with two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with one professional who regularly worked with the service.

Updated 3 December 2019

About the service

Autism Together - 32 York Street is a residential house providing personal care to two people who were living with autism. The service can support up to two people.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was registered for the support of up to two people and two people were using the service. The building design fitted into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

We observed positive, friendly interactions between people and staff. People were treated with respect, dignity and kindness.

Person centered support plans were detailed and guided staff about people's needs and how to meet them. Staff supported people to make choices and decisions relating to their care and to live their lives as they wished. People's risks were identified and assessed appropriately. People and their relatives were involved in regular reviews of their care and encouraged to offer feedback.

People were supported to maintain a healthy diet and had access to healthcare professionals should they need them.

Medicines were managed safely and staff had the appropriate training to support people effectively.

The provider had systems in place to ensure that people were protected from the risk of harm or abuse. We saw there were policies and procedures in place to guide staff in relation to safeguarding adults and whistleblowing.

There were sufficient staff to meet people's needs and to enable them to engage with activities, access the community and to live their lives as independently as possible. Staff suitability to work with people was checked at recruitment. Staff completed a robust induction process, attended training and received regular supervisions to be able to provide effective support for people.

People were asked for their feedback about the service through house meetings and giving feedback to staff. A range of quality assurance systems measured and monitored the quality of care and the service overall.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection: The last rating for this service was good (published 11 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.