1 May 2018
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.
At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
The service had 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.
People told us they felt safe. Staff knew how to safeguard people from abuse and what they should do if they thought someone was at risk. Incidents and accidents were well managed. People’s medicines were managed safely. There were good recruitment procedures and enough staff to meet people’s individual needs.
People’s needs were effectively met because staff had the training and skills they needed to do so. Staff attended regular supervision meetings and received an annual appraisal of their performance. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible. People were encouraged to be involved in decisions and choices when it was appropriate. Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) assessments were completed as required and in line with legal requirements. Staff had attended MCA and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) training.
People were treated with dignity and respect by kind and caring staff. Staff had a good understanding of the care and support needs of people and had developed positive relationships with them. People were supported to attend health appointments, such as the GP or dentist. People had enough to eat and drink and menus were varied and well balanced. People’s meals were served in a way that respected their specific needs. One person needed food served in a particular way to meet their health needs and through additional planning staff made sure this did not have an impact on the person’s social life.
People were supported to take part in a range of activities to meet their individual needs and wishes. All attended day centres for varying numbers of days each week. Activities were also arranged at home and people told us they enjoyed having meals out, theatre trips and holidays. People also told us they enjoyed visiting their friends and inviting friends and their family members to their house.
The environment was clean and well maintained. The provider had ensured safety checks had been carried out and all equipment had been serviced. Fire safety checks were all up to date.
The organisation continued to have good quality monitoring systems. Feedback was regularly sought from people, relatives and staff to hear their views of the service. People were encouraged to share their views on a daily basis. People and relatives were given information on how to make a complaint and said they would be comfortable raising a concern or complaint if they needed to.