Old Dairy

The Old Dairy consists of a care home for five people and a self-contained flat (The Flat) for one person. The service supports people with a diagnosis of autism or Asperger's. The service size reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right support, although the service was commissioned before this 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.

There were no deliberate signs to indicate the Old Dairy was a care home. Support staff wore their own clothes when working with people including accessing the community. Six gentlemen were living at Old Dairy at the time of our inspection.

People's experience of using this service: The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways:

• Staff understood how to communicate with people effectively to ascertain and respect their wishes. • People's independence was respected and promoted. Staff prompted people during household tasks and activities, to enable them to do things for themselves and learn new skills. • People's support focused on them having opportunities to be part of their community, meet others and maintain existing relationships. • Health and social care professionals guided staff to support people with their behaviour in accordance with national best practice guidelines. • Risks to people had been assessed and plans were in place and followed by staff to keep people safe. • Safe recruitment practices were followed to protect people from unsuitable staff. There was minimal staff turnover which promoted a high continuity of care and support. • Staff were knowledgeable around safeguarding and understood provider policies and procedures in this regard. There were good links with local safeguarding bodies. • Systems were in place to ensure people received appropriate support to take their medicines safely. • Staff received supervision, felt supported in their role and received the training they needed to support people's needs. • All staff had a good understanding of the principles and application of the Mental Capacity Act. No one was living under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. • Staff attitudes and behaviours were responsive, respectful and caring.

• People were supported through appropriate communication methods by staff that knew how to involve people in their own care. • People were supported to take positive risks and their goals and wishes were acknowledged and worked towards. • Interactions between staff and people demonstrated personalised, collaborative, action-oriented care and support. • There were processes in place to manage adverse incidents and complaints. There was evidence that learning from incidents was shared across the service. • Effective quality monitoring systems were in place and regular audits and checks supported the registered manager and senior staff to identify concerns promptly to take action to improve the service. • People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

We received positive feedback about the service and the care people received. The service met the characteristics of 'Good' in all areas. For more details, please see the full report which is at the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk