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
HF Trust – Avon DCA is a domiciliary care and supported living service. People are supported in 3 houses in Bristol and Bath. The properties provide self-contained flats with some shared spaces. There are two supported living houses in Bristol which can accommodate up to 9 and 17 people. The house in Bath provides support to up to 3 people.
At the time of our inspection, 28 people were receiving support from the service in these properties, but only 15 received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support:
Risks to people and the service were assessed, monitored and managed with people so they were protected, informed and their wishes respected. This meant people were supported to take appropriate risks and enjoy their lives safely.
Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making. Staff encouraged people and promoted their independence. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff supported people to access specialist services when this could better meet their needs or improve their quality of life. There was a desire for people to achieve the best outcomes possible.
Right Care:
Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply their knowledge.
There were enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. There was a core staff team who provided consistency.
People received kind and compassionate care from staff who knew them well. Staff ensured support was provided which met people’s individual needs.
Staff worked with people to assess and manage the risks people might face. Where appropriate, staff encouraged and enabled people to take positive risks.
Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual and cultural needs and actively promoted individual equality and diversity in their support of people.
Right Culture:
People, relatives, staff and professionals all felt the service was well led. The management team had good oversight of the services. The provider's monitoring processes were effective in helping to ensure people consistently received good quality care and support.
Staff understood their responsibilities and the part they played in achieving the best outcomes for people and focused on supporting them to live the best life possible. Staff had the knowledge, skills and attitude to provide responsive and compassionate care that was tailored to people’s needs and aspirations.
A core staff team provided consistent care with support from bank and agency staff. In some supported living houses, staff turnover was very low.
People and their relatives were asked for feedback, and this was valued. Staff encouraged people to be involved in developing the service and this enhanced their quality of life. People and relatives were confident in raising concerns and told us these would be noted and acted upon.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 12 August 2019).
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.