Avocet Trust - 22a-26 Middlesex Road

The provider had not effectively operated their quality assurance systems to oversee the safety and quality of the service.

Safeguarding concerns had not been reported by staff and management. The registered manager was not clear of their role and responsibility in relation to safeguarding people.

An effective system was not in place to ensure government guidance was adhered to in relation to the management of risks associated with COVID-19.

Medicines were not always managed safely. The provider's policies and protocols were not being followed by staff and management.

Staff training was out of date which meant staff didn't always have the appropriate skills and knowledge to support people's individual care needs.

People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not support them in the least restrictive way possible or in their best interests; policies and systems in the service did not support this practice. We have made a recommendation about this.

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 not always able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management team and support staff did not always ensure people lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives. People were involved in their care and future planning. Care provided was centred around the person however, people's

dignity, privacy and human rights were not always considered. The model of care and support provided to people did not always maximise their choice, control and independence.

People and their relatives told us they were happy with the care and support they received.

Systems were not always in place to recruit staff safely. We have made a recommendation about this.