Melody Lodge

Staff had been recruited and introduced to the service in a safe way. There were enough staff to ensure people's needs and wishes were met in a timely way.

Medicines were managed safely and staff worked with health and social care professionals to help people maintain their health and well-being. The environment was clean and good infection control procedures were followed.

Staff received training and support to ensure people's care was focused on their individual needs and wishes. People were supported to enjoy the food and drinks they liked and staff encouraged them to maintain a well-balanced diet.

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and 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.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. People were involved in planning their own care so that the way they lived their life reflected their choices and wishes.

Staff were kind and caring towards people and upheld their privacy and dignity. People were respected as individuals and their views and opinions were valued. They were supported to engage in meaningful activities both in their home and within the local community, COVID-19 restrictions permitting.

There were systems in place to ensure good oversight of the quality of the services provided, and clear plans

were in place to address any shortfalls. The registered manager promoted an open and inclusive culture within Melody Lodge and worked in partnership with relatives and external professionals to achieve good outcomes for people.