Alison House

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the service met people’s needs.

The last rating for this key question was good. At this assessment the rating has remained good.

This meant people’s needs were met through good organisation and delivery.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People received person-centred care. Relatives told us people’s preferences and needs were met. Support plans and risk assessments set out people’s specific needs and the risks their conditions posed.

To ensure that all vital information was immediately accessible, the provider had set out a critical information folder for each person using the service.

Staff supported people to integrate into the community and receive the support they needed from different services.

People were encouraged to retain their daily activities whilst at the service, to promote continuity, such as attendance at day services.

Relatives told us that staff knew the activities their family member enjoyed, and they were supported to do these. These included “Going to the cinema. [Person] loves stories, loves the parks, loves the seaside.”

Staff provided information for people in a way they understood.

One person used simple words from their ‘first language and these were recorded in their support plan so staff could use them to communicate. Another person benefitted from pictures.

The provider had systems to listen to people and respond to any concerns they had. People using the service and their relatives told us they knew how to make a complaint or discuss the service.

Several family members told us “I have never made a complaint.” Another said, “I have not had any bad experiences. I think they would be open. There has been no issues whilst [person] stayed there.”

People lived in their family homes, but whilst staying at the service staff encouraged people to access community facilities.

Managers told us the organisation believed in supporting people to increase access to community opportunities and networks. The provider had set up a social enterprise, a commercial events catering service, which employed people with a learning disability, and trained them in catering skills. This was to improve opportunities for people with a learning disability to gain valuable employment skills and all the benefits that come with having a structured job role in the local community.

Staff worked with people to help them have ordinary experiences. For example, supporting them to maintain relationships that mattered to them and their loved ones.

People had equity in experience and outcomes. Staff undertook training about equality and human rights. The provider had tried to match staff with shared cultural experiences, languages and religion with people using the service. This had helped ensure people had access to meals and other cultural experiences from staff who understood these needs.

Support plans included information about people’s personal history, interests and key people in their lives.

Staff worked with people and their families to understand people’s goals and plan for the future.

One recent example the provider gave, highlighted the role the service played in supporting a person who could no longer live independently on their own, who, due to mental health concerns had spent time in hospital. Staff supported the transition from hospital to Alison House and then when the person moved to a longer term supported living placement. The familiarity and support found at Alison House enabled them, with the support of the staff team, to transition to the new supported living scheme in a calm and planned manner. Staff told us this familiarity of coming “home” helped the person’s mental health after the loss of their independence. The person’s family were happy they had stayed living locally.

Representatives from the provider are on the local authority housing panel and work with the council on exploring move on options for people that cannot return home.