17 August 2015
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place on 17 August 2015 and was announced.
The National Autistic Society supports people on the Autistic spectrum, including people with Asperger’s Syndrome and similar conditions. NAS Community Service (North Yorkshire) provides services under the regulated activity of ‘personal care’. The service is provided to people who live in ‘supported living’ houses in Northallerton or Thirsk and who require assistance with personal care. The aim of supported living is to encourage people to live in the community with support from staff. At the time of our inspection, two people made use of the service.
There was a registered manager in post. 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 who used the service were kept safe. Staff knew what to do and who to contact if they thought anyone was at risk of harm. Risks to individuals had been identified and plans were in place to make sure risks were kept to a minimum. Where people needed their medicines to be administered by staff, there were clear procedures in place to make sure administration was carried out safely.
There were enough staff, of suitable skill and character to make sure people’s needs were met. Before new staff started work the provider carried out proper checks to make sure they were fit to work at the service. Staff were able to attend training that provided them with skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively.
Staff had a good understanding of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). DoLS are safeguards put in place to protect people where their freedom of movement is restricted. Appropriate action had been taken to make sure legal requirements were followed where restriction on a person’s movement was a concern.
People received the support they needed with their personal care. Where people had particular health needs there was clear information about the support people required. Staff were aware of individual preferences and how best to assist people in the way they wanted. They demonstrated a caring and warmth in the way they discussed the people they supported. People had regular reviews of their care and support to make sure any changes in needs were identified and acted on.
The registered manager had been in post since April 2015. They had a good overview of the service and had identified areas that needed to be improved. In particular there had been a number of changes in management over the last few years and this had affected staff morale. The registered manager was keen to provide a consistent and open management style.