9 March 2020
During a routine inspection
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
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.
People’s experience of using this service:
The way the service was managed needed to improve. Governance systems needed to ensure people received a consistently good service. Communication between the service and people's relatives needed to improve.
Staff knew how to prevent the spread of infection, but some relatives raised concerns about infection control and the cleanliness of some of the locations.
Staff told us the registered manager was approachable, and staff told us they knew them well. Spot checks and audits were completed to ensure the quality of the service was maintained. Staff were caring and compassionate. People spoke positively about the service and the support being provided.
People told us they were safe with the staff that supported them. Risk assessments covered all areas of risk and staff knew how to keep people safe from harm. Systems and processes were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. There had been no recorded incidents of seclusion or restraint. Staff had received training in infection control and had access to personal protective equipment. People were supported to take their medicine in a safe way.
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.
People told us they received effective care, from trained staff. Staff were trained in a range of topics, including positive behaviour support, autism and epilepsy. People told us they were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and that staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. Staff supported people to maintain a healthy diet, in line with their assessed needs and were supported to access health care if this was needed.
Staff were kind and caring and had developed positive relationships with people. Staff understood the importance of respecting people’s privacy dignity and independence.
Assessments and support plans were in place identifying what was important to people and how people needed to be supported. The support people received was centred around them and they were involved in any decisions made. The provider had a complaint’s process which people were aware of to share any concerns. At the time of the inspection, no one was being supported at the end of their life.
Rating at last inspection: This service was rated Good (2 June 2017)
Why we inspected: This was a planned comprehensive inspection
Follow up: We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk