Vision Beyond Autism

Updated 4 March 2020

The inspection

We carried out our inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. Our inspection checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 21 January 2020 and ended on 31 January 2020. We visited the office location on 31 January 2020.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. Due to technical problems, the provider was not able to complete a Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager and two directors of the service who were also relatives of people who received a service. We also spoke with two team leaders, two support workers, two relatives and one social care professional. We visited one person at home, looked at their records and spoke with the staff providing their care and support. We reviewed two people’s care records, three staff files in relation to recruitment, and staff training records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, accidents and incidents and complaints were also reviewed.

Updated 4 March 2020

About the service

Vision Beyond Autism is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care and support to children and young adults with autism. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection three younger adults were receiving support with personal care.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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

People benefitted from an exceptionally caring, kind and compassionate service. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the quality of care from relatives and professionals involved in people's care. Staff promoted a strong person-centred culture and were motivated to deliver care that met and exceeded expectations. A social care professional commented "It's phenomenal what they've achieved."

Staff went above and beyond to make sure people lived a fulfilling and meaningful life of their choice and were as independent as they could be. Staff went above and beyond to support people to complete tasks and secure work placements. Each person was supported to follow a comprehensive programme of activities and programmes each day to increase their independence.

Each person was supported by a small team of staff who knew them well. Staff had an excellent understanding of people's communication needs and supported people with their comprehension. Staff were skilled at anticipating people's emotional needs and supported people to use strategies to reduce their anxiety levels.

People's privacy and dignity was protected and considered at all times. Staff fully understood people's preferences, wishes and choices. They worked together with people, their relatives and professionals involved in their care to achieve the best possible outcomes for people.

People were supported to be a part of their local community. Staff supported people to access a wide range of facilities and worked with staff at these facilities to increase their understanding of autism.

People were supported in such a way that allowed them 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.

Staff were well supported in their role with appropriate training and supervision. Staff had also received specialist training to meet the specific needs of the people they supported.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service people received, identify shortfalls and bring about improvements. Risks to people had been robustly assessed and measures were put in place to mitigate any risks identified, whilst still respecting people's freedom.

The registered manager and registered provider had met their legal requirements with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They promoted person centred care and transparency within 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

At our last inspection, the service was rated "Good." (Report published 30 June 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the rating of the last inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.