All inspections: PICAS - Care Quality Commission

We received concerns in relation to support provided to people about the supported living service. As a result, we undertook a responsive inspection to review the key questions of Safe and Well-Led only.

We carried out a site visit to the registered office and supported living sites on 10 April 2025 as part of the assessment. This assessment was carried out by an assessor, an inspector and an Expert by Experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Assessment activity started on 8 April 2025 and ended 12 May 2025. We looked at 11 quality statements as part of this assessment. We received feedback from 1 person who used the service, 4 relatives of people that used the service and 15 staff about people’s care as part of this assessment.

PICAS (Pathways Independent Care and Autism Services) is a supported living service for people with mental health needs, learning disabilities and or/autism. The service can accommodate up to 11 people in various individual supported living accommodations across two London boroughs. At the time of our assessment, 9 people were using the service. We visited 3 supported living accommodations.

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 expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

About the service

PICAS (Pathways Independent Care and Autism Services) is a supported living service for people with mental health needs, learning disabilities and/or autism. The service can accommodate 11 people in various supported living accommodation across two London boroughs. At the time of the inspection, 10 people were using the service.

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

Right support:

¿ People told us they were safe. They and their relatives had control of how their care and support was arranged. People were supported to integrate into the local community and be as independent as possible. People lived in their own or in shared accommodation with a full range of facilities, including a garden. The accommodation types included bungalows or flats. People could personalise their home as they wished. People's quality of life was maintained through regular interaction with staff who promoted their independence and dignity. People pursued their interests and were supported to avoid social isolation by maintaining relationships with family and friends. We observed staff supporting people to go about their daily lives, such as their regular activities and routines. One person we visited enjoyed a car ride with staff. Another person we visited told us they looked forward to going to their college later in the week and see their friends.

Right care:

¿ People and staff developed positive relationships with each other. Care plans were person-centred for people to receive care that met their needs and preferences. Staff ensured people's dignity, privacy and human rights were respected. 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. Some people communicated with staff using sounds and gestures and staff understood these communication methods. People's sensory and positive behaviour support needs were understood and met.

Right culture:

¿ The values and attitudes of staff and managers enabled people to feel empowered in their daily lives. People's thoughts and feelings were considered and understood. The registered manager monitored the service to check people remained safe and well. Staff were recruited appropriately and checked they were suitable to work with people. Staff were trained to carry out their roles and received an induction upon their employment. Feedback was sought from people and relatives to help make continuous improvements to the service.

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 the service at the previous premises was Good, published on 20 December 2019.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on a review of information we held about the service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

Archived: PICAS Also known as Pathway Independent Care and Autism Services

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

29 March 2022

During a routine inspection