16 April 2014
During a routine inspection
Is the service safe?
Is the service effective?
Is the service caring?
Is the service responsive?
Is the service well-led?
This is a summary of what we found-
Is the service safe?
People told us they felt safe receiving care from staff employed by Autism Wessex. One person told us, "The staff make me feel safe and treat me with respect". Another person said "Now I have the same staff most weeks I feel comfortable and safe."
Staff had completed training in the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and also children. They could describe different types of abuse and how it could be determined if someone was being abused. All the staff we spoke with were knowledgeable about the service's safeguarding policy. Staff used a flow chart of the local procedures for reporting suspected abuse which identified who they should report any concerns to. They told us they felt confident to report safeguarding concerns. Appropriate checks were carried out on staff before they began working with people.
Is the service effective?
People we spoke with told us they were involved in planning their care. One person told us, 'My carers sit down with me and talk about my care plan and I feel fully involved in writing in it.' Staff were knowledgeable about people's care needs and how to meet them. One person said, "I talk with my workers about changes I want to my care plan and they let me know when my care plan has been changed. Staff told us they discussed these changes with their manager and were usually able to change people's plans appropriately. Staff had received training to ensure they had the skills to care for people living in the home. Where appropriate, the service sought advice from appropriate professionals to assist with the care provided for people.
Is the service caring?
People were supported by staff who were aware of their needs and how they wished to be supported. One person told us, 'The staff have taken on board how I want to be supported." Another person said, "I didn't like it when I first received help from Autism Wessex. I kept having different staff and got fed up telling them how I needed to be supported, Now it's much better. I have three staff who I work with. I have got to know them and more importantly they have got to know me. They are wonderful and really do care for me."
We saw staff had received training in working with people who had autism and had developed a good understanding of how each person's autism affected them. Staff were knowledgeable about how to develop people's independence skills.
Is the service responsive?
An assessment of needs was carried out before people began to receive support from the service. The care records contained details of how each person wished to be supported, including their personal likes and dislikes. People told us they could change some aspects of their care and could discuss this with staff or by ringing the office. The service responded to concerns and complaints and ensured the person was made aware of their response. One person had been able to agree how they would be informed of changes to their staff and how they could report concerns when staff were late or did not attend.
Is the service well-led?
Effective quality assurance systems were in place. The provider carried out regular audits which looked at the care and support people received along with checks of people's care plans. We saw some people had completed an annual questionnaire about the quality of the service. Comments from the survey were all positive Where people had made suggestions or requests, the manager had contacted the respondents to inform them of changes that were made in response to their comments. Staff told us the management team were supportive and always available for advice and help. Supervision sessions were occurring regularly and an appraisal system for staff was being introduced.