- Homecare service
The Porthouse
Assessment report published 20 July 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 27 April 2026 to 10 June 2026. The Porthouse is a supported living service providing 24-hour personal care for autistic people and people with a learning disability. At the time of the assessment, there were 3 people using the service.
We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.
People were at risk of harm because the service did not consistently follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), with Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest decisions not always completed. This resulted in restrictions being applied without proper legal authorisation, oversight, or regular review, constituting a breach of the legal regulations relating to need for consent. The provider’s quality assurance processes were not always effective in identifying concerns related to the MCA.
People were kept safe by skilled staff, effective risk management, robust safeguarding processes, and thorough incident monitoring, with sufficient staffing levels and appropriate infection control and medicines management in place.
People were supported to plan goals and achieve desired outcomes in ways that reflected their preferences and interests. Care was person-centred and effective, with people actively involved in planning their support, achieving positive health outcomes, and benefiting from strong collaboration with families and healthcare professionals. The service worked closely with all agencies to ensure the best outcomes and smooth transitions between services.
The service promoted a culture that encouraged independence, choice, and inclusion. Staff understood people’s care and support needs well and communicated with them effectively. People were provided with meaningful activities in line with their choices and preferences. Leaders and staff shared a clear vision focused on listening and continuous learning, with a strong emphasis on embracing people’s individuality. Managers were visible and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles and providing constructive feedback where needed.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
People's experience of this service
People and their family members were positive about the quality of care provided. People felt safe, were involved in planning their care, and had their choices respected. They received good-quality care from knowledgeable staff who treated them as individuals. One family member told us their relative “helps to plan meals, day-to-day activities and is supported to pursue interests, including planning trips further afield and holidays. I believe [people’s] rights are supported. Independence is encouraged in a range of ways, including cooking and everyday tasks.” There was a strong emphasis on identifying and providing the necessary support to meet people’s communication needs. A family member commented that “new staff seem well informed and to have taken the time to read about the communication needs of [people] and to listen carefully to them and other staff to develop their understanding further.” Some people could not directly tell us about their experience. We used a structured observation tool to assess whether they received good care. This approach showed that people were included, listened to, and that staff interacted with them consistently in a positive way. Systems and processes had been adapted to help people feel able to raise concerns and be confident that action would be taken and improvements made. People knew staff and leaders well, who were visible and available to provide support when needed.