About the service Sunnyside Domiciliary Support Services Limited was providing personal care and support to three people at the time of inspection. Although the service supported more people than this, others did not need support with their personal care. Some people were living in a shared supported living setting and others were living in their own individual flats. The service provides specialist support to people with learning disabilities and autism, to help them to live as independently as possible and achieve their goals. Staff provided flexible support across 24 hours, including overnight staff sleeping in.
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 lived in ordinary houses or blocks of flats with no signs to identify the accommodation was supported by staff. Staff did not wear a uniform, instead they wore their own clothes to make sure there were no obvious signs that others would recognise them as staff. People had access to a shared garden and shared communal areas where they could meet to socialise with others.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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 to gain new skills and become more independent. Staff supported people to make the choices and decisions they were able to on a day to day basis. People were part of the local community, accessing local shops, leisure and work opportunities.
There were enough staff to make sure people received the support they needed, including going out to their chosen activities or work opportunities. New staff were recruited in a safe way to make sure only suitable staff were employed. Some people needed more support to maintain their safety than others. Risks were carefully and positively managed while promoting independence. Staff understood their responsibilities in safeguarding people from abuse and helping people to understand how to stay safe.
Staff received the training, support and supervision they needed to carry out their role and consider their personal development. Staff supported people to maintain and improve their health by encouraging a healthy diet and to access healthcare when needed.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People’s care and support was planned and provided in a way that put them at the centre of planning. Staff knew people well, their likes, dislikes and what and who was important to them. The individual way people communicated was key to their support, including verbally, or by their behaviour or body language.
There was an open culture, led by a registered manager, who was also the provider, and described by staff as being approachable and supportive. People knew the registered manager well and spoke about them. The registered manager had a good oversight of the service, using their monitoring processes and visiting often, to make sure people received a good quality and safe service.
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 15 February 2017)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.