27 February 2019
During a routine inspection
The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
People’s experience of using this service:
The service people received was flexible and supported people with limited communication to lead unique and valued lives that incorporated their preferences and met their needs. Staff knew people well and could tell us how they managed risk and behaviours that challenge that respected the person and supported their dignity.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff told us they had appropriate training, knowledge and support to keep people safe. Observations showed people were comfortable in the company of staff.
People and their relatives we spoke with felt confident in the management. They told us there was a caring culture within the service and staffing levels were appropriate.
It was clear staff morale was good and everyone was committed to ensuring people received care and support based on their preferences and life choices. The acting service manager told us the low staff turnover allowed positive relationships to be built with people receiving support and strong teamwork to develop.
People and their relatives were involved in the development of support plans. These were regularly reviewed to reflect people’s current needs. The management of risk was included within the support plan to minimise the likelihood of preventable harm occurring.
Staff files we looked at evidenced the acting service manager used the same safe recruitment procedures we found at our last inspection. Staff told us training was ongoing and they were supported to gain vocational qualifications in health and social care.
There was a complaints procedure which was made available to people and their family. People we spoke with told us they were happy with the support they received. The service continued to have good oversight of relevant procedures through monitoring and auditing to ensure people received effective support and the service was well led.
The acting service manager used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. We noted activities were provided as part of the support people received. Staff told us they supported people to activities that enhanced their physical and mental wellbeing.
The service engaged with outside agencies to ensure people received timely healthcare support. The management team engaged with other agencies to gain updates on legislation, best practice and learn from other providers experiences.
More information in the full report.
Rating at last inspection:
Good (Report published 27 April 2016)
Why we inspected:
This was a planned comprehensive inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme or if any issues or concerns are identified.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk