Background to this inspection
Updated
24 August 2022
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
Three inspectors and an expert by experience carried out the inspection. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
The service had four managers registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. We interviewed the registered managers at the same time and will refer to them as the “registered managers” in the report.
This service provides care and support to people living in their own homes, so that they can live as independently as possible. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave notice of the inspection because some of the people using it could not consent to a home visit from an inspector. This meant that we had to arrange for a 'best interests' decision about this. We also needed to be sure the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 6 June 2022 and ended on 23 June 2022. We visited the office location on 15 June 2022.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.
The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
During the inspection
We visited three addresses and met with seven people who used the service to get their feedback about the care provided. Where people were unable to talk with us, we used observation to help us understand their experience of using the service. We also met with four care staff who supported them.
We had phone contact with eleven family members for feedback about the service. We had email contact with two staff. During the office visit we met with the four registered managers, a deputy manager, the director and chief executive officer of the organisation and other office staff. We met with the therapy team, including an occupational therapist, behaviour practitioner and the speech and language therapist. We reviewed a range of records. This included five people's care records and selected medicine records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two professionals who had contact with the service.
Updated
24 August 2022
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
About the service
Autism Anglia is a supported living service providing personal care to approximately 22 people in 11 addresses. Support is provided to people with a learning disability and autistic people. People live in individual flats and shared houses.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right Support
People and their representatives told us the service enabled people to have a good quality of life. A relative told us, “The service transformed the quality of life for my family member. It’s lovely to see them so enjoy life.”
Staff focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life. Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests.
Staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence. Staff supported people to make decisions, in line with best practice guidance. Staff gave people time to communicate their views, using their preferred communication method.
The service supported people in a holistic manner which promoted their wellbeing. Staff enabled people to access health and social care support from both internal specialist teams and professionals in the community.
Staff supported people with their medicines in a way that promoted their independence and achieved the best possible health outcome.
Right Care
People received kind and compassionate care. Staff treated people with respect and dignity. They knew people well and responded to their individual needs.
Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to keep people safe. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.
The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Senior staff worked effectively to reduce the impact of challenges in staff recruitment.
People who had individual ways of communicating, such as body language, sounds, Makaton (a form of sign language), pictures and symbols could interact comfortably with staff and others involved in their care. Staff had the necessary skills to understand them.
People’s care and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life. Staff received advice on best practice from knowledgeable specialists within the service.
Right culture
People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. The whole service placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did.
People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments or sensitivities people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have. This meant people received care that was tailored to their needs. The service had a specific focus on understanding autism, which enhanced people’s quality of life.
People and those important to them, including advocates, were involved in planning their care.
Staff evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate. Senior staff and managers had good systems in place to understand what was happening in the service. They were visible across the organisation, which minimised the risk of closed cultures developing.
People’s quality of life was enhanced by the service’s culture of improvement and the desire to make changes which improved people’s lives.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service was applying the principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for the service at the previous premises was good, published on 12 November 2019.
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.