Archived: Autism Wessex-Highcroft and Valley View

We spoke to one person living at the home. They told us that staff assisted them with the choices they made. The staff told us that arrangements were in place for this person to move on as they wanted to try supported living.

Where people could not consent to care and treatment the staff advocated for them to ensure they were supported in making safe decisions. However the provider could not evidence that due legal processes were being consistently followed in relation to making best interest decisions.

The home was not clean and whilst suitable arrangements were in place to ensure that the home was cleaned these arrangements were not effective. The provider had policies and guidance in relation to preventing health acquired infections but these was not being followed.

The medication administration at the home was safe and an audit had been carried out to ensure the provider's policy was being followed.

The records used by the provider gave staff instructions with regards to the day to day living and support needs of people living at the home. However these were either inaccurate or lacked clear and concise information to ensure that people were supported in a safe and consistent way. Training records were inaccurate.

We found that steps were taken to ensure the right people were employed at the home and that staff knew how to protect people from abuse. Arrangements were in place to respond to complaints and comments about the service.

We found that that consent was not always being properly sought for people's care at the home. We saw that some people were unable to consent to their care.and decisions were sometimes being made on their behalf without using appropriate procedures.