Autism and Aspergers Care Services Ltd

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People received support from staff who knew them well as individuals. They understood their needs and were kind and caring. People’s care and support needs were assessed and reviewed regularly. This meant people received care that was person-centred and reflected their needs and choices.

People were supported to maintain their own interests and friendships. They attended work placements independently and where appropriate, staff supported people to take part in activities of their choice to meet their individual needs and wishes. This included shopping trips, trips to theatre and pub, and trips to places of interest.

People were protected from the risks of harm, abuse or discrimination because staff knew what actions to take if they identified concerns. The home was clean and tidy throughout. There were enough staff working to provide the support people needed, at times of their choice. Recruitment procedures ensured only suitable staff worked at the service.

Staff understood the risks associated with the people they supported. Risk assessments provided further guidance for staff about individual and environmental risks. People looked after some of their own medicines and were supported to receive others when they needed them.

Staff received training that helped them to deliver the care and support people needed. This included specialist training in autism and positive behavioural support to meet people’s complex needs. They attended regular supervision meetings and told us they were very well supported by the registered manager. A staff member told us, “(Manager) has a genuine concern for the wellbeing of people and staff.”

People's health and well-being needs were met. Where appropriate, staff supported people to attend health appointments, such as the GP or dentist and attended appointments for specialist advice and support when needed. People's nutritional needs were assessed. They were supported to eat a wide range of healthy, freshly cooked meals, drinks and snacks each day.

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.

The provider and registered manager had good oversight of the service. They knew staff and people well and provided a supportive environment to live and work. There were a series of audits which helped the provider and registered manager to identify where improvements were needed to continue to develop the service. There was a detailed complaint procedure, and this was displayed so anyone wanting to raise a concern could do so.

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 30 December 2016).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of this inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The previous inspection of the service took place on 3 October 2013. The service met all the regulations we checked at that time.

People received safe care and support. Staff understood the types of abuse and neglect which could happen to people and their responsibility to report any concerns to protect them. Staff assessed risks to people’s health and safety and had support plans in place to keep them as safe as possible. Accident and incident records were analysed to minimise recurrence of injury to people. There were enough staff deployed at the service to meet people’s needs. The provider carried out robust recruitment checks to ensure staff were suitable to support people. People received their medicines safely when they needed them. Staff were trained in the safe management of medicines.

People were supported by staff suitable for their role. Staff received induction and relevant training to the needs of the people they supported. Staff had the skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs. Staff were supported in their roles and received regular supervision to monitor their performance.

Staff followed the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 where people did not have the capacity to understand or consent to a decision about their care. Staff sought people’s consent before they provided care. Staff supported people in line with their preferences and wishes. Staff complied with the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards to ensure each person’s rights were protected.

People accessed the health and care services they needed. People had sufficient food and drink which met their preferences. People received specialist diets appropriate for their dietary requirements.

People said staff were kind and caring. Staff were respectful of people’s dignity and privacy. People looked relaxed and happy around staff. People could have visitors from family and friends whenever they wanted and were supported to visit relatives when they wished to do so.

Staff understood what was important to people and worked closely with them and their relatives to ensure each person led a meaningful and enjoyable life. Staff supported people’s participation in the community. People received the support they required to maintain contact with family and friends.

Staff assessed people’s needs and had support plans which showed how people wanted their care provided. Care plans showed individual preferences of people including their health needs and goals. People contributed to the reviewing of the support they needed and received input from relatives where appropriate and healthcare professionals involved in their care. People received support and care which met their individual needs.

People, their relatives and staff described the registered manager as approachable and open to ideas and feedback. People and their relatives attended meetings and completed surveys about their views of the service. The registered manager reviewed their feedback to improve the service.

People had access to the complaints procedure. The policy was in an easy to read format to help people and relatives know how to make a complaint if they were not happy about the service.

The registered manager and provider undertook regular checks on the quality of the service and made improvements when necessary. The registered manager worked in partnership with healthcare professionals to ensure people received the support they needed.

We found that people using the service and their representatives were involved in decisions about the care and treatment they received. Care plans were detailed and person centred. We examined the systems and processes in place for the safe management and administration of medicines and found these to be effective. We saw evidence of robust quality assurance processes to gather information about the safety and quality of the service.

We saw staff listening to people who used the service and responding to them in a polite and courteous way, we also saw that staff supported and gently encouraged people to participate in their planned activities for that day. One person told us"the staff help me to do my shopping and cooking which helps me to manage my diet."

Staff we spoke to told us that they received regular supervision and that the senior team are available for advice and support. they also told us the senior staff are approachable and very supportive. We saw that staff received regular training appropriate to the needs of the people they support and that staff were knowledgeable about the needs of the people who used the service.

There are sufficient numbers of staff on duty at any one time to meet the needs of the people who used the service. In addition to this the manager has the flexibility to be available to work shifts and or support people who use the service to attend appointments and activities when required.

We saw that people who used the service were able to attend regular group meetings where they were able to put forward their views or concerns regarding a variety of topics such as, menu planning, group social events, the running of the home.