8 October 2020
During an inspection looking at part of the service
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the guidance the Care Quality Commission (CQC) follows to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. We saw the model of care and setting maximised people’s choice, control and independence. Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensured people who used the service lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
A more joined-up, cohesive and responsive approach to safety and risk management had been embedded into everyday practice.
Practices for the prevention and control of infection were operated effectively.
Medicines were managed safely. This included systems for receipt, storage, administration and disposal of medicines. Medicines systems were organised, and people received their medicines when they should.
Systems which sought to protect people from the risk of abuse were operated effectively. Relatives told us they were confident their loved ones were as safe as possible when using the service.
Environmental improvements had been made to better reflect national best practice guidance. Rooms were individualised to people who used the service on a visit by visit basis to ensure an appropriate environment. The communal garden had been transformed into a space that was safe, accessible and welcoming.
Improvements had been made, and sustained, to strengthen management oversight and quality assurance. Roles, responsibilities and staffing structures were better defined. A new registered manager was in post, along with a new deputy manager and a new service-wide Matron for learning disabilities.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this service in May 2019. Breaches of legal requirements were found in respect of safe care and treatment and premises and equipment. Consequently, the service was rated requires improvement. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions of Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Short Break Service on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.