During an assessment under our new approach
Alison House is a ‘care home’ without nursing. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this assessment. This service provides short stay care and support for up to 5 adults with a learning disability.
The assessment started on 6 August 2025 and ended on 22 August 2025. During the period of the assessment the registered manager was away from the service on leave, so we liaised with senior managers to obtain information for the assessment.
The last rating for the service was good (published 4 January 2024). This assessment was carried out as the last inspection was a focused inspection. This assessment is comprehensive and covers all 5 domains. The rating has remained good.
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.
We found the provider was meeting the principles of Right support, right care, right culture. People were cared for in a safe way. People received their medicines safely and as prescribed. People lived in a safe and clean environments. People were treated with respect and dignity. There were systems to investigate and learn from accidents, incidents and safeguarding concerns.
Some of the provider’s systems including how accidents and incidents were managed, needed to be improved. Some care records needed to be updated.
Staff assessed people’s needs and preferences. Family members were involved in developing and reviewing care plans. People were supported to stay healthy and to access external healthcare services.
Family members praised the kindness and caring nature of staff. People had good relationships with each other and staff. People were supported to take part in a range of activities in the community. People received personalised care which met their needs and reflected their preferences. People’s human rights were respected.
There were effective systems for monitoring and improving the quality of the service. The provider’s audits had highlighted most of the issues found at this assessment and there was an action plan to implement improvements. Staff understood the values of the organisation and there was positive culture. Staff felt supported. They had access to a wide range of training. The provider was actively trying to recruit to the service as the extensive use of staff who were not permanently employed posed challenges to the management of the service. Nevertheless, staff mostly worked well together and with other stakeholders to understand and uphold best practice. These included asking people and their family carers(who supported people to remain in their family home) using the service, and other stakeholders for feedback.