31 August 2017
During a routine inspection
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Autism Plus' on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
At this inspection on 31 August and 18 September 2017 we found the service remained Good. The service met all relevant fundamental standards.
Autism Plus supports people in their own homes and provides supported living for people with autistic spectrum conditions. The agency office is based in Sheffield city centre. At the time of our inspection 13 people were using the service. Since our last inspection the service has changed its statement of purpose and only provides care and support for people requiring over 28 hours a week.
The service did not have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons.’ Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. However, the provider had appointed a new manager and at our visit on 18 September 2017 the new manager showed us evidence they had commenced the process of registering with CQC.
Staff we spoke with were knowledgeable regarding signs of potential abuse and how to recognise abuse. They were also aware of the reporting procedures. Assessments in care files identified risks to people and management plans were in place to reduce risks to enable people to live an independent lifestyle.
We received positive feedback from both the people we spoke with and their relatives. They all told us the service provided good care that was safe.
Recruitment procedures ensured the right staff were employed to meet people’s needs safely.
Medication systems were in place to ensure people received medication as prescribed and safely. Staff had received training to administer medications safely. However, systems were being improved at the time of our inspection.
At the time of the inspection there was sufficient staff on duty to meet people’s needs. People and their relatives whom we spoke with told us that there had been problems with consistency of staff but this was improving and there were adequate staff to meet people’s needs and facilitate regular activities in the community.
Staff supported people to enable choice and control of their lives and people were supported in the least restrictive way possible.
People were treated with dignity and respect. People told us that the staff who supported them were kind and very caring. Staff we spoke with understood how to respect people’s preferences and ensure their privacy and dignity was maintained.
There was a system in place to tell people how to raise concerns and how these would be managed. Relatives we spoke with told us they hadn’t had to raise any concerns but wouldn’t hesitate if required.
There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. Action plans were implemented for any improvements required and these were followed by staff. The quality monitoring had identified that some improvements were required in the quality of the paperwork and documentation in care plans and medication records. These improvements had been commenced.
Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and had access to policies and procedures to inform and guide them.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.