Archived: Autism Wessex - Higher Ground

We found the following examples of good practice.

People were supported to maintain contact with their relatives and the management team ensured people’s relatives were kept informed about any changes or updates.

The provider ensured that regular COVID-19 testing regime was adhered to.

Staff received training in infection and prevention control and used personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly. The provider ensured there was a stock of appropriate PPE available. This included sourcing an alternative equipment, for example visors, where required.

People received continuity of care as they were supported by a group of staff that knew them well.

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

People were not able to tell us about their experiences of life at the home, so we therefore used our observations of care and our discussions with staff and relatives to help form our judgements.

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 were safe. The provider had policies and procedures in place designed to protect people from the risk of suffering harm and abuse. Risk assessments were in place which identified possible risks to people and how to reduce them. Risk management was central to the day to day care people received.

People's needs had been assessed before they moved into the home, to ensure their needs could be met. People’s changing needs were met.

People were supported by staff who were trained to meet their individual needs. There was a very close relationship with people's families and other professionals to ensure people received the care and support they needed.

Staff asked people for their consent before supporting them. People were supported by a staff team who respected their choices and decisions. Staff promoted people’s privacy, dignity and independence.

People, and those close to them, were involved in planning and reviewing their care. People's communication methods were identified within their care plans and understood by staff. Peoples relative’s views were central to how care was provided and reviewed and how the service was run.

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.

People were part of their community. They chose a range of activities, trips and social events.

The service was well managed with the provider’s support. The management team were open and honest. There were effective systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service. There was a commitment to improving 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 (and update)

The last rating for this service was Good (published June 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.

Autism Wessex High Ground is situated in the market town of Sherborne, and is close to the town’s shops and leisure facilities. Accommodation is a split levelled house arranged over two floors with stairs giving access to each floor. The home can accommodate up to four people and it provides support to people who have autism. At the time of the inspection there were four people living there, all who had learning disabilities and autism.

People were not able to tell us about their experiences of life at the home so we therefore used our observations of care and our discussions with staff and relatives and information received prior to the inspection to help form our judgements.

There was a newly appointed manager in post, who had applied to the Care Quality Commission to become the registered manager. 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.

People were supported by a caring staff team who knew them well. Staff morale was good and there was a happy and relaxed atmosphere in the home. One member of staff said, “People are so much happier since moving here last year”.

Recruitment checks were robust and there were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet people's needs. Records confirmed that training was appropriate to people's roles and staff were suitably skilled. Staff were supported though supervision and appraisals

There were enough staff deployed to help keep people safe, each person received one to one staffing. People were supported to live the life they chose with reduced risks to themselves or others. There was an emphasis on supporting people to develop and maintain independent living skills in a safe way.

There were policies and procedures which helped to reduce the risks of harm or abuse to the people who lived at the home. These were understood and followed by staff. These included recognising and reporting abuse, the management of people’s finances, staff recruitment and the management of people’s medicines.

Care plans were personalised to each individual and contained information to assist staff to provide care in a manner that respected their needs and individual wishes. Behaviour support plans and communication profiles were also used to ensure staff were able to understand and support people’s individual needs.

Staff encouraged people to be as independent as they could be. Staff saw their role as supportive and caring but were keen not to disempower people.

Safe systems were in place to protect people from the risks associated with medicines. Medicines were managed in accordance with best practice. Medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely. Health professionals were routinely involved in supporting people with their health and wellbeing.

People were always asked for their consent before staff assisted them with any tasks and staff knew the procedures to follow to make sure people’s legal and human rights were protected.

People accessed various activities in the local community. People were supported to maintain contact with the important people in their lives. A relative told us, “The staff are very responsive and always bring [person’s name] home when we want to see him.”

There was a complaints procedure in place. Complaints had been dealt with in line with the service policy. Audits were carried out to monitor all aspects of the service and action plans developed which highlighted areas for improvement.