Inverthorne

We completed this inspection as part of our routine programme, and because of the length of time since the last full inspection was completed. We have 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 experienced good quality, person‑centred care that supported their rights, independence and wellbeing. Evidence from our site visits, care records, and feedback from people, relatives, staff and professionals showed the service was working in line with the principles of right support, right care, right culture.

People had often lived at the service for many years and appeared very content. Relatives consistently spoke positively about the stability of support and the relationships their family members had built with staff, with one relative describing the service as a “second family”. Care was delivered in a way that was personalised, consistent and based on long‑term relationships rather than task‑focused routines. Staff supported people to access the community, health appointments and meaningful activities that reflected their preferences.

Care was rights‑based and inclusive, supporting right care. Staff understood people’s needs well and used a range of communication approaches, including individualised communication systems and accessible information, to ensure people could express their views and make choices. Families and professionals told us they felt listened to and confident that staff would act quickly if concerns arose. There was strong partnership working with health and social care professionals, including learning disability teams, GPs and therapy services. Medicines, infection prevention and risk management systems were in place and managed safely.

The culture within the service was open, caring and reflective. Staff spoke positively about their roles. They described strong teamwork, approachable leadership and a learning culture where incidents, safeguarding concerns and near misses were reviewed to improve practice. People were treated with dignity and respect, and staff demonstrated empathy and warmth in their interactions. Equality, diversity and inclusion were embedded in practice, with people’s cultural, religious and personal identities understood and respected.